More Rubbish!

This weeks Dundalk Democrat has two pieces on dumping and recycling, the first from Carrickmacross News. This article is an invitation to members of the public to recycle Christmas waste at The Recycling Centre, Scotch Corner - details of other bring centres in the area are here. List of Christmas tree recycling points listed also. Meanwhile the same paper on the same topic carried a report of a recent Town Council meeting where the subject of who is responsible for the disposal of rubbish from rental accommodation came up. Ballybay SF Councillor Gene Duffy asked if skips could be supplied to local residents associations to all for major clean-ups. There was also a reminder to the folk of Tallanstown and surrounding areas about new recycling facility opened on the Springhill Road, Tallanstown.

Perhaps the high level of coverage of rubbish and dumping issues is just a hangover from Christmas, or more worryingly, perhaps it is an early indication of people responding to the recession by saving on rubbish disposal costs?

An Taisce branded "murders", "terrorists", by enraged Councillors

In a riveting story in the Meath Chronicle , Meath Councillors have branded An Taisce, The National Trust for Ireland, as "murders", "terrorists", "robbers" following the decision by An Bord Pleanala, to refuse planning permission for a business park at Kilbride. According to the story: "Robin Rennicks was granted planning permission by Meath County Council for phase one of a business park on lands at Belgree, Kilbride, Clonee, last June. Councillors had agreed to materially contravene the Meath County Development Plan, allowing the development on lands previously unzoned for such a project. An Taisce, along with a number of local objectors, appealed the council’s decision to the planning appeals board, Bord Pleanala, which last week overturned the decision of the Meath planning authority."

Under Part 8 of the Local Government Act , County Councillors can change the County Development Plan so that , for example, land zoned as agricultural can be rezoned for industry. However An Taisce and local residents objected to the rezoning on the grounds that it was outwith regional planning guidelines, was not near any growth centre or transportation corridor, unserviced with inadequate sewerage capacity. An Bord Pleanala agreed and refused permission on the 13th January 2009. In refusing the application the inspectors report states in essence that the development is "contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

The article continues: "Ian Lumley, An Taisce’s heritage officer, this week rejected the criticisms of the Meath councillors, saying that there was more than enough zoned land for industrial development in Navan, Dunboyne, Drogheda environs, Ashbourne and along the new railway corridor. “These locations have all been identified and the development plan reflects that,” he says. “Material contraventions are back-door rezonings for landowners,” he added.