Kilclonfert Residents withdraw appeal

CONCERNED Residents of Kilclonfert have withdrawn an appeal to an Bord Pleanala over a controversial municipal waste facility at Barnan, Daingean.

Offaly County Council refused planning permission last September for revision of the previously approved recycling facility to include the handling and transfer of municipal solid waste and operation of plant machinery by Guessford Ltd.

Residents, who were intitally jubilant when the permission was turned down, decided to appeal the refusal to an Bord PLenala as they felt Offaly County Council’s refusal wasn’t strong enough.

The lodged their appeal with an Bord Pleanala in October of last year.

However, this week, residents have decided to withdraw their appeal “upon expert advice.”

They declined to comment further.

Residents have long been campaigning against the facility and objected to the facility’s handling of municipal waste on a number of grounds.

These included road safety, its proximity to Raheenmorre Bog, a designated area of national and international improtance, noise pollution and an increase in rodents.