NORTH WEST KILDARE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
GROUP LAUNCHES BLUE FLAG CAMPAIGN
A public meeting of NWKEPG was
held in Connolly's pub Ballagh on Thursday 21st @ 9.00pm.
This was well attended with councillors McEvoy and Fitzpatrick
present. James Brady Chairman opened the meeting. Gerry Woods,
P.R.O., for the group then gave a presentation. Information
was presented regarding site locations and the negative impact
that this super dump would have on surrounding communities.
The risk to local rivers and water supplies was highlighted,
and also the scenic and historical aspects to the bog, which
would be destroyed forever.
Alternative enterprises for the cutaway bog were also discussed.
An alternative waste management strategy was also presented.
Some recent developments in waste separation technology were
presented where toxic materials could be removed from the
waste resulting in a very viable ECO friendly fuel. Many people
as well as councillor Fitzpatrick showed great enthusiasm
for this idea, where a waste to energy plant would be centrally
located close to main sources of waste and where suitable
infrastructure exists. It was suggested that the output from
this could be used as a fuel in the new state of the art power
plant outside Edenderry.
Councillor McEvoy stated that he would not be in favour of
super dump development on any bog. John Dunne NWKEPG asked
if a landfill licence was given for the bog would it mean
that the Kildare County council could roam freely through
the 5000 acre bog creating landfills as they pleased.
People showed great concerns about increased traffic, risk
to local rivers and drinking water. The point was brought
up that on one hand government agencies were spending money
to preserve the bogs and in total contradiction to this they
were proposing to locate a dump in a very historic bog and
destroy it forever. Many people wanted to know when the final
choice of site would be made. Councillor Fitzpatrick said
the decision on this would be delayed until September as a
result of a work backlog caused by foot and mouth disease.
Brendan Weld suggested that the group should meet the 4 Clane
councilors, and all 25 councillors afterwards and present
their case. Derek Tierney (Timahoe IFA) stated that the alternative
waste management strategy presented sounded like a good idea
and that the authorities should give it great thought before
proceeding down the road of a super dump.
NWKEPG launched their Blue flag campaign on the night and
many people bought
flags as well as tee-shirts.
Next public meeting of the group is in the BREDA resource
center in Johnstownbridge on Thursday 5th July @ 9.00pm.
RECYCLING BANK
A welcome addition to the facilities in the
community will be the arrival of bottle banks and can banks
at Kelly's Bar, Timahoe. These recycling banks are being put
in place as a result of the joint co-operation of Ger Kelly
in providing the location, Rehab in providing the bins and
Kildare County Council in sponsoring them. It is expected
that the recycling banks will arrive around the end of July.
APPEAL FOR SUPPORT !
North West Kildare Environment
Protection Group
are appealing to the Community
at large for support in the campaign against the super dump
in our locality. We would particularly welcome any relevant
professionals to our campaign. We also need the public support
be it active or financial.
Contact James Brady Chairman, 045 863553
Web site: www.esatclear.ie/~gwoods/dump
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