The Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots has indicated he will approve the plans without a public inquiry despite almost 2,000 objections to the Cam Road scheme on foot of fears that the relocation of landfill will affect water quality for people living in the area.
Edwin Poots, said: "North West Region Waste Management Group (NWRWMG) engaged in a procurement procedure with the concerned parties.
"This was to go ahead if planning conditions were met so the position I'm in is to give the green light to something that meets the criteria.
"If we had been at the point where my officials and the experts involved were in clear conflict with the issues that the applicants were putting forward, then we would've sent this to a public inquiry."
-- Advertisement --
However, SDLP MLA John Dallat commented: "I think the Minister has failed to appreciate things have moved on, there was a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant that was discussed at the council as recently last night
"He should have gone through the usual process instead surprising people with this decision over the Christmas period, not giving people the chance to respond properly."
Also commenting, local Alliance representative Cllr Barney Fitzpatrick slammed the plans and said it could have a devastating environmental impact on the local community and could damage the quality of life of people in the area. These plans also fly in the face of what they EU wants us to do more of, recycling.
Coleraine Councillor Barney Fitzpatrick said: "This super dump could have a very negative impact on the everyday lives of people in the vicinity. It could also potentially pose serious environmental problems.
"Other large facilities of this nature have seen serious infestations of flies which have plagued people living anywhere nearby.
"The creation of an incinerator in an appropriate location, far away from residential areas, along with better recycling would probably be the best option instead of these landfill plans.
"The EU wants us to step up our recycling efforts and I believe the creation of a landfill style super dump flies in the face of this. These plans send out a very negative message about local government's attitude to waste and our potential to increase sustainability. They need to show far more ambition as the green economy is an area where there is massive room for growth here," he said.
(GK/BMcC)
