North Cork town's residents urge submissions on plans for aerobic digestion facility

Mitchelstown residents have appealed to locals to make a submission to plans for a biogas plant which they are currently appealing with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP).

Cork County Council granted conditional planning permission in December for an anaerobic digestion (AD) facility to produce renewable biomethane, CO2 and a bio-based fertiliser from organic material.

A group of locals has appealed the grant of permission, and the case is currently with the planning board, with anyone able to make a submission until 5.30pm this Wednesday, January 28, while ACP is set to make a decision by May this year.

The development will be on a 5.61-hectare site primarily located in the townland of Corracunna and surrounded by agricultural lands to the north and east, with the N73 national route to the south, and the L90813 local road to the west.

Residents have expressed concern about noise and odour pollution as well as the visual impact of the development, what they say is a lack of consultation by applicant Nephin Renewable Gas, and pressure on traffic in the area both during the construction phase and once the development is up and running.

They pointed out that if the plant were located in some other European countries, it would require a safety buffer, as a UK Environment Agency benchmark used by planners in Ireland advises that AD facilities should not be located within 200 metres of residential developments, but that Ireland has no such rules so the development is allowed despite it being just tens of metres from homes.

OBJECTION

One resident objection to the original planning application with Cork County Council said: “As we live 60m away, we are very concerned about the impact on air quality and the surrounding community, as persistent odour or pollution would compromise the quality of life for residents throughout the neighbourhood.” 

Another resident wrote: “We live within 1 km of the proposed development and not one person in this household has met anyone from Nephin Gas or had any indication that anyone has called or requested to meet us or engage with us.” 

A spokesperson for Nephin Renewable Gas told The Echo: “Nephin Renewable Gas (NRG) can confirm that it is currently seeking planning permission to develop a biomethane plant near Mitchelstown. As a matter of policy, NRG does not comment on planning applications once it has entered the formal planning process.”