Planning decision objection

Kilcullen Community Action is to lodge an objection to the planning permission recently granted by Kildare County Council for retention of a composting plant at Silliot Hill which, it is claimed, will bring lorry-loads of 'rotting food' through the town and also cause problems for people living at the Naas end of the town.



The application -- by TEG Environmental plc, based near Preston in England -- was for the retention of the existing composting buildings (waste reception building, site office, plant building and maturation building) for a period of 10 years, which were previously used for the composting of sewage sludge in 2002 before the completion of the upgrade to the Osberstown sewerage treatment plant. Permission was granted on 04/11/05.

The proposed facility would produce compost in commercial quantities from a mixture of chicken litter, food waste from catering companies and the food industry, and the organic component of domestic waste from the county's next landfill operation.

Under the application, which was published on December 20 of last year, the operation would involve the input of 10 trucks of material a day, and one truck a day taking material out.

Concerns were previously expressed by KCA that the raw materials would be trucked in via the motorway through Kilcullen, creating smells. And it was also pointed out that the similar project some years ago had closed down because of the degree of odour that affected adjacent landowners.

It was also noted that in a similar facility in Britain, the material produced ended up being stored in the open air and turned regularly for several weeks before being ready to be carted away.

The matter was discussed at the most recent KCA meeting and the Diary understands that a large number of objections to the decision are expected from householders to the north of the town.

Brian Byrne.