UPDATE: Toxic waste was not present at woods near Castletown House, Kildare County Council says

Kildare County Council (KCC) has said that no toxic waste was found at a woods located near a well-known North Kildare beauty spot.

The finding, which follows concerns that toxic waste was dumped at a woods adjacent to the former carpark at Castletown House, was given to a councillor representing the Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District (MD) at the latest MD meeting.

At this meeting, which took place on Friday, November 21 last, Social Democrats Cllr Claire O'Rourke (who appeared at the meeting by virtual means) asked KCC to provide details of findings from the Area Waste Enforcement Officer relating to a recent environmental investigation into the Castletown site. 

According to Cllr O'Rourke: "On foot of Motion 28 at the October MD meeting, [the Area Waste Enforcement Officer] was to investigate and report his findings and recommendations" following the dumping of potentially toxic environmental waste at the site.

Responding to her query, KCC told Cllr O'Rourke that an inspection took place at the Castletown site on October 14 last, with
follow up inspections subsequently taking place on October 20 last and again on October 30 last.

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KCC further said: "All waste has been removed from locations adjacent to the former M4 car park site and to the west of the
car park.

"No toxic environmental waste was noted at this location."

KCC also told Cllr O'Rourke that the waste which was present at the site "largely arose from the remains of an unauthorised encampment".

Two photographs of the site were also provided by KCC at the meeting.

Cllr O'Rourke welcomed the news, and added that, in her view, the area is "a lovely spot".

Social Democrats Cllr Claire O'Rourke. Photograph credit: Kildarecoco.ie

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