Council seeks to halt gas plant

A public outcry in west Limerick led yesterday to a local authority being asked to take steps to revoke a deal to lease land to a US corporation for the development of a gasification plant.

All 40 members of Limerick City and County Council backed a proposal urging the council executive to review an agreement with Cadence-EnviroPower (CEP) for a five-year lease of the site, at the former Gortadroma landfill.

It was envisaged that CEP would have an option to enter a 30-year lease in the event of planning being obtained. The company aims to generate electricity for sale to power-supply companies.

The landfill opened in 1999 and closed last year. There was public fury when it emerged the council had entered a leasing agreement with CEP for a gasification plant.

The company proposes to build a €180m plant on the site, creating hundreds of temporary construction jobs and about 150 full-time posts.

It plans to cater for 1,000 tonnes of waste daily at the site, including about 45 tonnes of used tyres.

The former landfill site had facilitated about 3,000 tonnes of municipal waste, weekly.

The move to re-visit the lease agreement was proposed yesterday by all six council members representing the Adare/Rathkeale municipal area.

Last week, about 500 people attended a heated public meeting in Shanagolden and told representatives of CEP the company was “not wanted” in west Limerick.

Fianna Fáil councillor Richard O’Donoghue yesterday asked the council executive to examine whether there was any way open to the council to terminate the lease agreement made with CEP.

Limerick City and County chief executive Conn Murray said he would seek appropriate legal advice and provide a reply to the council.

An action group, Residents Against Gasification in our Environment, has been set up to lead the fight against the proposed plan.