Published: Thursday, 18th March, 2010 1:07pm

Locals angry over 'dirty industry' zoning plan

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Residents of Mullingar's western reaches have told Westmeath County Council this week that they will not tolerate any moves to locate so-called "bad neighbour" industry in their back yard.

A number of people living in the area surrounding the Forest Park industrial estate are up in arms over Council plans to make provisions for "heavy industry", in the form of 21.5 rezoned acres nearby.

At the November 2009 Council Senior Planner, Terry McCague, said that the variation arose from an objective in the CDP where the Council must bring forward proposals for sites for "heavy" or "bad neighbour industry" or "non-light industry" of a nature that could not be located beside residential areas.

The proposal for the variation went on public display during January and February, and is due to come before councillors for a decision at the end of this month.

Charlotte Maguire, Kilpatrick, Mullingar, is one of several who lodged submissions expressing concerns.

Rather than being moved a safe distance away from "sensitive areas", Ms. Maguire maintains that if ratified, the Council's proposal would move "bad neighbour industry" right onto the doorsteps of Mullingar West residents.

She said that the variation proposal offered "no clear or precise definition" as to what kind of industry would be permitted at the site: "The document is very vague," Ms. Maguire said. "It opens up the rezoned land to anything.

"We feel that if the variation is allowed to go ahead in its current form, there would be no stopping any kind of heavy industry setting up there, regardless of how detrimental it would be to the amenity of the area, in terms of noise, dust, smells and smoke.

"No reference is made to any potential visual intrusion, and the location is bounded at the south end of the old Mullingar racecourse. This area has been proposed as an area of natural heritage.

"The canal is nearby, as well as woodland and agricultural land. The site is also bounded by a stream, which makes its way to Lough Ennell."

Ms. Maguire said that residents merely seek clarification as to what kind of industry will be allowed on site.

"We're not trying to interfere with progress," she continued. "We all want to see jobs created in the area. But we are looking for reassurance, and we want to be clear that if Westmeath County Council is looking to zone somewhere as 'bad neighbour' use, this is not a good location."

Residents have met with Mullingar West area councillors to voice their concerns. "They told us that they would take our concerns on board," Ms. Maguire said. "If the decision is made and goes through as is, it will be too late, and the site will be opened up to any kind of industry.

"We want the (Councillors) to know that they now bear the responsibility for this, and anything that may happen afterwards."

In November Fianna Fáil's Cllr. Ken Glynn raised concerns about the proposal. This week, Cllr. Glynn said that he "questions if zoning a site so close to a residential area is the way forward".

"When the period for public submissions came to a close, a lot of people came to me and said that they didn't know about or understand the proposal," he said.

"I have been assured that the sort of industry which would be located at Forest Park would not be anything which produces odours, smells or pollution of any sort, but people still have strong concerns.

"If they feel strongly enough, they should lobby their local councillors."