Churchfield residents vow to resist expanded waste facility

RESIDENTS in Churchfield will fight any plans to build a waste site at the local industrial estate, according to local councillor Kenneth Collins.

Waste management company Country Clean had sought planning for a civic amenity bring site on John F Connolly Road last year but withdrew their application to add to their dump operation in the area after a backlash from the local community.

It is understood that the company are exploring the idea again under sister company Greener Families LTD, aiming to develop a 'state-of-the-art recycling centre' on the site.

Greener Families is hosting an information session in the Farranree Community Centre on Popham's Road between 5pm and 8pm this Thursday, November 9, and Mr Collins is urging residents to turn up to let the company know what they think of the plans.

"Country Clean are looking to bring a civic amenity site up into Churchfield and we are against it," said Mr Collins.

“We are not against recycling, but this will be the fourth waste site up [in the industrial estate]. They tried to establish one a few months back but residents had a public meeting where nearly 50 people turned up.

“They told us at that time that they were going to listen to the people and not go ahead with it and now, lo and behold, they are at it again,” he added.

Mr Collins said the infrastructure in the area simply cannot handle more heavy goods vehicles.

“Enough is enough,” he said.

“The residents and the community are not happy about this and we do not want it to go ahead. 

“There are smell issues there already and the road infrastructure is not capable of taking vans, trucks and tractors. It's at maximum capacity already and there is very poor public lighting."