There has been much furore over the past few days about a proposal to construct a bio-energy, power generation plant at Kerdiffstown (Sallins) to be accessed via the Monread road.
In brief the plant would ‘compost’ organic waste materials to produce an effluent gas which would then be converted to power / electricity. This is a renewable energy source and has the dual benefit of disposing of waste materials whilst producing essential energy. Such plants are common on the continent and in use in many countries. I am not aware of another in Ireland at present although I am open to correction on that.
Kerdiffstown and surrounding areas (Sallins / Kill / Johnstown / North Naas) have suffered at the hands of waste disposal for some time, with the nefarious Neiphim Trading causing serious problems on the Kerdiffstown road over a period of years cluminating this year when the odours reached an all time high (low?) and in some cases people were literally forced to flee their homes in the surrounding area. Whilst it was always an issue for people on the road, amazingly in the surrounding areas until recently there were those who remained unaware of the problem. I remember people asking me what it was when I mentioned the issues in a newsletter at one stage during the local election campaign. However the past twelve months brought the issue into stark relief as the stench really extended to pollute the atmosphere for miles around. Just this week a high court injunction forced the place into some kind of compliance and the end may be in sight there.
This hangover bodes poorly for another waste disposal facility in the same vicinity. A new applicant, M&M Coldstores, have applied for planning at a nearby site. Their proposal is for a bio-energy plant as mentioned above and the facility would create 50 new jobs once opened. The applicants also claim the facility would consume waste from the surrounding area and return energy to the same locations. Considering we currently purchase energy on the international markets I would be very interested in the technicalities of keeping it local if it could be achieved. (Am a little sceptical until I hear them unfortunately.)
There has been widespread alarm about the proposed facility, a central concern being that it may process thousands of tons of animal carcasses. I gather this is not planned by the operators although the sought permission would enable it were it to be granted. This in itself not necessarily a bad concept, unpleasant as the idea is, the output of killing floors must go somewhere and at least in the best Catholic tradition “from ashes to ashes, from dust to dust” a natural circle converting the waste matter back to energy for the living. Esoterics aside I do not believe this will happen at this site in any event, even if the plant does go ahead.
On a very practical level I would have concerns re the proposals on the following grounds:
- Traffic volumes in Sallins and Monread are already very high and would struggle to absorb more HGVs
- The EPA has not inspired confidence in its dealings with the other Kerdiffstown facility; if these are the regulators then I am afraid in recent times the law has been shown to be an ass.
- Proximity to residential areas is very acute. An even slightly more removed site would be preferable.
There are also many technical arguments on the nature of the scientific processes used although these as always are open to expert debate. I think the more local practical problems are enough of a challenge at this point. I have seen some good letters of objection doing the rounds and I include one here.
UPDATE: I learned overnight that the site location is currently zoned ‘Agricultural’. In planning terms, this means that a change of use proposal would have to go before the council to allow this be zoned ‘Industrial’. This would require a majority of Councillors voting to override the existing planning status in what is called a ‘material contravention’. I cannot really see this happening on something as contentious as this and therefore I would be very surprised at this point were this facility to go ahead.
I recently published one for Sallins and here is one for Johnstown. A reasonably low level update of what I’ve done and what I’d like to do in the particular area: