Protesters to fight incinerator plan in Europe

PROTESTERS last night said they were prepared to take a European court case against proposals to build Ireland’s first toxic waste incinerator.

Yesterday Cork County Council refused permission for land in Ringaskiddy to be rezoned for the 80 million project. However, the company behind the plan, Indaver, says it will appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala within three weeks.

“We have won one battle, but the war is still very much on,” Cork Harbour For A Safe Environment (CHASE) spokeswomen Linda Fitzpatrick said.

CHASE, an umbrella group which claims to represent more than 20,000 objectors, said the councillors’ decision to vote 30-13 against re-zoning the land, had been a great boost to their campaign.

“It will have to be a huge fund-raising effort to fight any case in the European Court, but if we focus our efforts we’re convinced it will work out,” said Ms Fitzpatrick.

Indaver managing director John Ahern said he was pleasantly surprised that so many councillors had voted in favour of re-zoning and for the incinerator which would be capable of handling 100,000 tonnes of toxic waste each year.

Mr Ahern said the Ringaskiddy site was the most suitable available in Ireland, especially as Cork produced 60% of the country’s toxic waste. He said that another site examined by the company in Little Island was not a fall-back option.

“Ringaskiddy will be perfect if a proposed new road infrastructure is put in place. We wouldn’t be operational anyway until at least 2007,” said Mr Ahern. The Indaver managing director said protesters would be entitled to go to the European Court if, as expected, Bord Pleanala over-rules Cork County Council.

“They’re entitled to fight their case, we’ve no quarrel with that. We’re prepared to go to the European Court as well,” he said.

County manager Maurice Moloney said that the EU was considering a ban on member countries exporting hazardous material, adding that the problem was unique to Cork, which produced the vast majority of Ireland’s toxic waste.

“I believe exporting can’t continue much longer, so we’re going to have to grasp the nettle,” said Mr Moloney.