County Council removes ‘unauthorised equipment’ from controversial facility
Wexford County Council took action against a controversial waste recycling facility at Killowen Upper, Castletown, yesterday (Monday), by removing ‘unauthorised equipment’ from the site.
In what it described as ‘a significant environmental waste enforcement operation at an unauthorised waste site’, Wexford County Council removed several items of equipment including a large cylindrical trommel used for sorting waste, and several vehicles.
In a statement, Wexford County Council said it was ‘using powers available to it under the Waste Management Acts’ to conduct an operation ‘ to limit environmental pollution occurring at the site.’
‘ The operation includes removal of unau- thorised equipment and follows months of investigation and monitoring by Wexford County Council at the unauthorised site,’ the statement read.
The large-scale operation was also attended by gardaí and a number of other agents, and road closures were put in place.
Director of Services at Wexford County Council John Carley who is responsible for managing the Council’s environmental services said that ‘ the public is entitled to the protection of the local authority in cases where such breaches of environmental legislation occur and must have confidence in the ability of the local authority to respond.’ He said the enforcement operation was ‘entirely appropriate and necessary to limit environmental pollution and unauthorised activities occurring at this site’.
Local resident Eileen Collins, who is one of many who campaigned against the facility, welcomed the move. ‘It’s been a long haul, and it’s not over yet,’ she said, explaining that a planning enforcement matter is still before the courts.
‘It gives me a little spark of hope that something is going to get done,’ she said.
Retention permission for the facility was refused last November to Maguire Skip Hire Ltd. It sought the change of use of an agricultural yard to a construction and demolition waste recycling facility, and permission for improvement works.
Over 30 locals lodged objections, while the company said the business would no longer be viable if retention was refused.