Incinerator tops list of objections
A PROPOSAL to build a controversial incinerator which would use poultry litter as fuel has attracted the highest number of planning objections over the last five years.
Figures revealed by the Department of Environment also identified George Best Belfast City Airport's plans to extend its runway as being in the top five planning applications to receive the most objections.
The statistics came to light via an Assembly question tabled by SDLP MLA for South Antrim Thomas Burns.
The figures showed that between April 1, 2004, and October 10 this year, the proposed Biomass fuel plant at Glenavy, lodged by Rose Energy, received 6,733 objections.
Rose Energy - owned by O'Kane Poultry, Moy Park, and Glenfarm Holdings - has proposed that the incinerator is built on the shores of Lough Neagh, on a site adjacent to the Ballyvannon Road.
The plan has attracted strong opposition from residents of neighbouring villages, such as Glenavy, Crumlin and Ballinderry, who have formed a group called Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator.
They say they are concerned about the toxicity of any ash which will be produced, which they fear could spread for up to 40 miles.
But the company has said that the fuel plant is "the project receiving the largest amount of support letters", as well as getting "widespread support from Northern Ireland's major business organisations".
A spokeswoman said there was also "scientific evidence to support Rose Energy as the best and only option to make use of Northern Ireland's poultry litter and generate renewable energy".
Belfast City Airport's proposal to extend its runway by 590 metres at the north-east end of the existing runway came fifth in the list, with 1,471 objections since plans were submitted in 2008.
An extended runway will facilitate flights to a wider range of European destinations, the airport says.
Many residents of east Belfast who live under the flightpath are opposed to any expansion of the airport because of concerns about increased noise, pollution, and traffic congestion.
A spokesman for George Best Belfast City Airport said that the proposal also had a large amount of support.
He said: "According to Planning Service, 2,241 letters supporting the runway application have been received. This includes widespread support from throughout the business community and some residents' groups."
Second in the top five proposals to receive the most objections was a housing development in Killyleagh, Co Down - which was withdrawn in October 2006 - with 2,421 objections. Third came the proposed development of a non-hazardous landfill site in Macosquin, Co Londonderry, which sparked 1,945 complaints.
Plans for the development of an inert landfill facility at Ringsend, near Garvagh, received the fourth highest number of objections - 1,944.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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