Rochfortbridge residents oppose Offaly landfill plan

The people of Rochfortbridge and local politicians have joined neighbours in Offaly to object to plans to open a landfill just outside Rhode.

The planning application from Oxigen Environmental Unlimited Company includes details for a materials recovery facility on the site at Derryarken, Rhode. When operational, it would accept and process up to 90,000 tonnes of household, commercial, industrial and construction waste per annum.

Offaly County Council has received more than 100 submissions objecting to the Oxigen plans, including a number from Westmeath residents and groups expressing concerns about the impact that the proposed development will have on the environment and traffic levels in the Rochfortbridge area. One submission came from the Rochfortbridge Rahanine Trail Blazers walking club, whose members mapped out a number of walking routes on Rahanine Bog, the Bord na Móna property near the proposed landfill.

In their submission, club members said the site was an inappropriate location for a development of the proposed type due to “its proximity to a high tourist amenity and sensitive ecosystem”.

The group added that if given the go-ahead, the development would “have a significant adverse effect on the amenities of adjacent occupiers and would be likely to result in unacceptable emission of noise, fumes, dust, water and soil pollutants, grit or vibration”.

They added that the development would “severely limit proposed plans for a bog walk” and that they have “serious concerns in relation to flora and fauna, wildlife, water and air pollution, noise pollution and odours”.

“We also have serious concerns regarding local planning, geology, our landscape, health concerns, large amount of traffic, impact on children. Rochfortbridge has a high population of school going children and for these reasons, we ask you to refuse this development.”

Cllr Denis Leonard is one of two members of Westmeath County Council to submit objections to the development. He stated that: “Aside from landfill being the least preferred option for waste management by the EU, and hard to manage with odours, flies, dust, health effects, traffic management and other hazards; this is not in any way keeping with sustainable development, proper planning or responsible waste management.” The Labour councillor said landfill could lead to a significant increase in trucks through Rochfortbridge “a narrow town with hundreds of students there daily before going on to a narrow, not-fit-for-purpose road in the middle of a high amenity area proposed for development of ecotourism”.

“The landfill could negatively influence local rivers, lakes and water courses, and it would severely limit proposed plans for a bog walk area adjacent to this site planned by Bord na Mona and Westmeath County Council.

“I am also concerned about the health impacts on the area with so many local children and adults suffer asthma, other respiratory ailments and other vulnerable health issues. I am concerned with landfill gas and the subsequent burn-offs in the years after the landfill ceases operation. The odours can be very nauseating.”

In her submission, Cllr Emily Wallace noted that the site notice was erected on a road, the R400, that had been temporarily closed for repairs to a bridge over the Yellow River and that there had been “no consultation held with local residents of Rochfortbridge, County Westmeath a village of over 1,500 people which is with in 3km of the proposed site”. Cllr Wallace also said that R400 is already “in constant need of repair and maintenance… and that the extra volume and size of vehicle using the proposed site, will only impact negatively on biodiversity, road conditions, current road users and the local villages in the area”.

Noting the proximity of the site to the Yellow River and Croghan Hill as designated area of high amenity, Cllr Wallace added that the wider area has “been as been a focus for Just Transition funding both from Westmeath and Offaly councils and these projects are vital to the long-term sustainability for the area and their communities”.

A meeting to discuss the Oxigen plans is being held in Rochfortbridge Community Hall next Monday, October 9, at 7pm. The decision due date for the application is November 7.