Council not keen on public debate on Whiteriver
A challenge to Louth Co Council to have a public debate at a neutral venue with an independent chairman on the issue of the proposed public dump in the Whiteriver/ Philipstown area is not to be taken up.
It was contained in a letter from Breda Woods, Secretary of the Anti-Dump Committee, who states that while various deputations have been received by the Co. Council on the matter over the last two and a half years, they feel that they have not been given a fair hearing as they were not able to have a proper debate, so they now issued this challenge.
Mr. Hugh Conlon at last Monday’s Co. Council meeting agreed to such a debate, while Mr. Frank Godfrey stated that the people were opposed to the dump, and if something wasn’t done there would be a “shootout” between them and the Council.
But Mr. Brendan McGahon, T.D. felt if the Co. Council accepted this “ludicrous challenge” it would be the end of the local authority in the county.
Earlier in the meeting the Council had before them a Section 4 notice concerning the dump, and Mr. Donnchadh MacRaghnaill wanted a vote on a motion he had submitted at an earlier meeting that any action on the dump be deferred.