Representatives from the ‘Ballinasloe Says No’ community group have expressed their immense disappointment following the decision announced by Galway County Council to grant a permit to operate a waste transfer station in close proximity to the East Galway town.
‘Ballinasloe Says No’ have maintained an opposition stance to the waste transfer station proposal since it initially originated in 2017 and despite numerous submissions from the community detailing the serious health and environmental implications the local authority confirmed grant permission last week.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser this week, local Fine Gael Senator and ‘Ballinasloe Says No’ Secretary, Aisling Dolan, stated that the process of opposition to the waste transfer station will continue.
“We are fighting for our town, we have done it previously and we will do so again. This is another step in the fight to protect our children and families from hundreds of trucks coming through our town.
“This is an inappropriate location for a waste transfer station. High numbers of 10, 15 and 30 ton trucks will have to drive through the centre of Ballinasloe residential and urban areas, past schools, playgrounds and Portiuncula University Hospital to access the site.
“This proposed site is within two kilometres of the second largest urban centre in County Galway. There is another 90 acres at stake here with the same operator, this is not a one-off and will have a major impact on our town.
“Our team has been in place for over four years and we are committed to a vision of a safe and healthy town for all.
“Thank you to everyone who made a submission, to our clubs, schools, community groups, business community as well as all our public representatives who backed Ballinasloe. As a committee we are reviewing next steps,” Senator Dolan asserted.
Fellow committee member, Dr Vincent Parsons, Chairperson, ‘Ballinasloe Says No’, noted the hazardous implications pertaining to the granting of the waste transfer station permit.
“This is a bitterly disappointing decision. Access for the rubbish trucks is through the town, passing beside our schools and Portiuncula University Hospital. It is in close proximity to numerous family homes. Odorous gases, dust, flies and vermin causing multiple health hazards.
“It is adjacent to the River Suck flood plain. Leachate will contaminate the drinking water and have an adverse effect on the wildlife and migratory birds in the Callows. It would be hard to find a more unsuitable site for a major waste facility,” Dr Parsons stated.
Anita Tuohy, Town Team Co-ordinator, expressed a sense of frustration with the decision taken by the local authority in this regard.
“We (the Town Team ) feel so let down and frustrated with our local authority. We are making great progress developing Ballinasloe as a sustainable energy community. This is one of many exciting projects happening.
“One of our main goals is to become a low carbon urban community in collaboration with one department of our local authority and helping the Council meet their climate action targets.
“Meanwhile, on the other hand, a different department of the same Council has granted the permit to operate the waste transfer station. The huge additional volume of trucks passing through our town will only result in increases in our carbon emissions.
“As a community we are making enormous efforts to improve our town, we need help and support from our local authority to achieve our goals.
“This latest decision thwarts all the ongoing good work and is leaving a very bad taste in the mouths of locals. In essence its a kick in the teeth to the people of Ballinasloe,” Ms Tuohy emphasised.
