Kerdiffstown fire shows urgent action needed on clean up and security

Posted by Bronwen Maher on October 22, 2010 at 11:40 AM

Leinster MEP Nessa Childers who visited the controversial Kerdiffstown landfill site with Kildare TD Emmet Stagg and local residents in recent weeks said that last night’s blaze at the dump showed the urgent necessity to have the site cleaned-up and secured.

“This is Ireland’s most notorious dump and it has been the subject of a series of High Court actions. When I visited the site three weeks ago with local residents and Deputy Emmet Stagg, the smell coming from the dump was very apparent. It was also made clear to me that residents had very real concerns about the threat of more fires breaking out and about the ease with which boundaries at the dump can be breached.

"I have been in contact with the European Commission regarding last night's developments.

"Several weeks ago I alerted officials in the European Commission to the ongoing situation at Kerdiffstown landfill. The Commission was shocked to learn the details and expressed an interest in conducting a preliminary investigation into the site's mismanagement.

 "Unfortunately, when the IPA and High Court began their own investigations, the Commission was forced to step back and allow our national judicial process to take precedence.

"However, I believe that last nights events represent a major development in the case, and I have been in touch with the Commission once again this morning regarding where we will go from here.

“I am extremely concerned for the health and welfare of the people living near the dump, and I have made my concerns about this known to the European Commission. I will refer this development to the Commission also.

“Issues to do with the ongoing management of the facility and the clean-up of the site are before the Courts at present.

“Last night’s fire shoes the extreme urgency of resolving this issue without any further delay in the interests of those living in the area and the proper environmental management.”

Permanent link | Comments (0) |