Members inundated with complaints about gas smell

June 1993

GAS smells got up the noses of Arklow Urban councillors again last week as they called for swift action to be taken against the offending North Quay plant.

Cllr Tom Clandillon who raised the matter at a council meeting said that L and M Molloy Ltd should be asked to suspend operations until the plant was checked out and until the plant was checked out and until they were assured the emissions were not injurious to health.

Every councillor was inundated with complaints last week after what Cllr Clandillon described as vile and the worst smells ever.

People were getting sick and fed up with the situation.

He said that they had had assurance after assurance, and report after report, but his contention last week was that they were being laughed at.

Cllr Pat Sweeney said that he was fed up trying to explain to people that the councillors were doing all they could.

He said the owner of L and M Molloy stated the gas smell was not coming from his plant but Mr Sweeney stated it was coming from it.

Cllr Paul Fortune, who raised the matter of gas smell at North Quay before at a previous meeting, said it had now come to the stage that they had to go to law and he agreed that the Council should get an injunction against the company immediately.

It was clear that this is injurious to health, is a public nuisance, people are getting sick from it,’ he said.

Cllr Paddy Kavanagh claimed that this firm has complete disregard for the people of Arklow and something would have to be done about this whole situation.

Dr Bill O’Connell agreed with everything that had been said and pointed out that he went over to the gate of the premises and the smell was coming from the plant.

As a GP in the town, he had several patients with breathing problems and told his fellow councillors of having to attend two people who culd hardly breathe.

He said if people were getting sick, it was injurious to health.