Offaly residents in late rush to object to plan for waste plant
NUMEROUS objections are currently being lodged in relation to a proposed waste management facility in north Offaly.
Oxigen Environmental first sought permission for a materials recovery facility at Derryarkin, Rhode in September, 2022.
A decision is due from Offaly County Council on September 26 next and local authority planners have already received further information from the applicant.
The last date for submissions from the public is Tuesday, September 5 and the last few days have seen a rush of objections and observations in advance of the deadline.
Claire Murray, a Fianna Fail candidate in next year's council elections, said it had been brought to the notice of the residents of Rhode village and beyond that a site notice in relation to the proposed Oxigen plant was in place along the R400 road.
“There is a palpable anger among many Rhode residents in relation to many aspects of this planning application,” said Ms Murray.
She said the initial planning application was received on September 21, 2022 after site notices had been erected at two locations on September 14.
“The most recent site notice was erected on August 2, 2023, on a stretch of road that has been closed since July 17, 2023. This same stretch of road is still closed due to the failure of a bridge over the Yellow River,” added Ms Murray.
“It is evident, since speaking with many Rhode residents, the applicant did not engage with many of the homeowners or residents in the vicinity. This is not a requirement but I have been assured that residents in the village are usually informed, as a courtesy and kept abreast of new developments and projects as they progress, when discussing different organisations or companies operating in the area.
“The lack of public consultation seems to be one of many issues people have with this proposed new development.”
Oxigen hope that when fully operational the facility will receive and process up to 90,000 tonnes per annum of household, commercial and industrial waste.
Ms Murray said she had been asked how the infrastructure around this site is expected to withstand the influx of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
“Rhode has, over the past few months and years, already seen a huge increase of HGVs and similar and the toll is obvious on our roads.
“Residents are concerned about the proximity of this development to the village of Rhode, the Yellow River and how it would lay approximately 3.5km from the summit of Croghan Hill, a natural amenity that has recently received funding and improvements from the town and village renewal scheme.
“Residents of Rhode and surrounding areas are anxious to have their voices heard on this matter and feel as though public consultation and clear and open lines of communication are the least of what they deserve.”
Ms Murray said submissions can be made through the planning section of the Offaly County Council website.
Many of the submissions refer to traffic volumes on the R400 and the point was made that as a road with a peat base, it will be unsuitable for the additional traffic.
According to the application planning file with the council, Oxigen owns the site of the proposed facility where disused agricultural sheds are currently located.
The site is close to a piggery and a Kilmurray sand and gravel plant. It is off the R400 road between Rhode and Rochfortbridge, 4km from the Westmeath town and 5.5km from Rhode.
The nearest house is 755 metres away and while “some levels of odour” will be generated they will have a “negligible impact”.
The applicants say the facility will be the company's first in Offaly, Laois, Kildare or Westmeath authorised to accept municipal solid waste.
Oxigen's facility near Daingean is limited to accepting construction and demolition skip waste.
The application says because of diminishing dependence on landfill, there is a need for additional materials recovery facilities to promote the separation, recovery and recycling of wastes in support of circular economy objectives.
When the council sought further information from Oxigen, the company said it will not be accepting any hazardous construction and demolition waste at the facility.
Most of the processing of material will be indoors and if timber shredding has to take place outside, it will not be done during dry or windy weather.