Fianna Fáil deputy for Roscommon-Galway, Eugene Murphy says he is standing behind the people of Ballinasloe in their objection to the proposal for a waste transfer station at Poolboy, warning that the proposal could lead to the installation of an incinerator in the future.
Deputy Murphy was speaking following his attendance at a recent public meeting in the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe, where people turned out in force to voice their opposition.
“I would have very grave concerns about this proposal for a waste transfer station to the Poolboy area of Ballinasloe, firstly in the interests of health and safety, as such a facility could see up to 100 trucks of up to 30 tonnes travelling through the town, bringing increased dangers for cyclists, walkers and other road users,” Deputy Murphy commented.
Deputy Murphy said that Ballinasloe is “the forgotten town of County Galway”. Despite suffering major economic setbacks in recent years, he said there is a great community spirit in the town and there are real efforts being made at local level to attract investment and enterprise.
“Ballinasloe has in the region of €26 million worth of sports facilities, a strong schools base, a new library, and prime office space, so it could be an ideal commuter town based between Athlone and Galway, but it needs more funding at local authority level and needs to continue to attract more investment,” Deputy Murphy continued. ‘I fear that the wonderful work undertaken by various community groups in recent times to attract investment would be put in jeopardy by the introduction of a waste transfer station to the town.”
The Fianna Fáil TD said that he would be fearful that the waste transfer station application was only the start of plans.
“I understand that the company has a total of 73 acres, so I would be fearful that this application could pave the way for further waste processing operations,” he said. “While I do not want to create panic, I would be fearful that an incinerator could be on the plans in the future.”
Galway County Council is currently assessing a waste permit for the site and people have until January 24 to submit written objections.
