Longford residents raise safety concerns over proposed anaerobic digester

Strong concerns were raised at a community meeting by local people in the Ballymahon area over 'potential health and safety risks' in relation to a proposed anaerobic digester.

The company behind the proposed project Nephin Renewable Gas, which is owned by a Canadian pension plan investment board, has commenced a feasibility study, which includes water sampling.

Carol Yorke, who lives near the proposed site with her family, issued a press release on behalf of the group and she said she learnt about the meeting through her neighbours.

Read: Longford store issue 'warning' to local businesses and claim man 'stole two handbags'

She told the Leader, "It is a good idea and nobody is opposed to sustainable farming or anything like that but it's just that it is so close to houses."

"Our roads can't take any more construction lorries or anything like this, they have been doing construction on the roads for the past year for the water pipe so all the roads are tore up at the moment and if you add this to it it's just going to be a disaster."

In the press release Ms Yorke issued on behalf of the group she said it "emerged that all but one of the shareholders of Ballymahon Mart voted in favour of leasing the site for the proposed development", a decision they claimed "may be linked to the financial terms associated with the lease".

Read: Man accused of having knife charged in connection with South Longford aggravated burglary

Ms Yorke said a representative from Nephin was invited to the meeting but 'refused' to attend.

"Local residents have voiced growing frustration over the limited public information available about the proposed anaerobic digester, particularly as concerns mount regarding potential health and safety risks. 

"During the meeting, locals expressed concerns over the odours that will come from the waste products, the increased traffic on an already busy and dangerous road, the noise pollution from construction and trucks delivering the waste products, and the risk of explosion which has happened in similar anaerobic digesters in other parts of the world. 

"Many feared that it is history repeating itself, noting to the old dump on the Newcastle Road, which locals campaigned against for many years.”

Read: PICTURES | Enjoyable food, music and chat at north Longford Easter party in Abbeylara

Ms Yorke, on behalf of the group, said while the local community has expressed support for sustainable farming and renewable energy, residents maintain that this particular proposal is not suited to the chosen location.

"We must consider the potential impact on young people and future generations, with residents calling for careful consideration of how largescale infrastructure projects may shape the local environment and quality of life in the years ahead.

"As this development moves forward, the community deserves full transparency and a genuine say in shaping the future of our local environment. 

"We urge residents to lend their voices in objecting to the proposed anaerobic digester until clear, comprehensive information is provided, and we call on the developers to engage openly, honestly, and responsibly with the people who will be most affected."

The Longford Leader has learned that Longford Westmeath Farmers Mart (Ballymahon Mart) voted 76% in favour of the motion  to lease the site at their EGM on February 18.

Independent Cllr Mark Casey said he is not opposed to anaerobic digesters generally, but he believes it is not an appropriate setting in a built-up area.

Read: Storm Eddie on the horizon? Potential stormy conditions for Longford next week

He stated he understood if the AD is approved and is developed it would lead to 12-to-14 further lorries on the N55 road and 24-to-28 additional journeys per day.

"It's not the right place to put these things."

"An urban area is not suitable for it, we have traffic congestion in Ballymahon on the N55."

"It's just not a suitable site for what is being proposed."

Cllr Casey said he has engaged with the company and he is due to travel to a similar sized site in Cambridge, England over the coming weeks along with five fellow councillors Cllr Sean Mimnagh, Cllr Pat O'Toole, Cllr Mick Cahill, Cllr Paul Ross and Cllr Martin Skelly and council management on a fact-finding mission.

"That is to see how much impact there is to the local area and the environment and it is the exact same site as the proposed one in Ballymahon."

A source locally, who supports the project and did not wish to be identified, said the AD, if planning is secured, would represent an investment of €40 million-to-€50 million  with around 10 jobs directly on site and up to 70 jobs through the 'multiplier affect and contractors'.

"This is going to bring in a huge amount of income locally to farmers, they will have a route to market with grass, it will be mostly pit silage.

Read: WATCH: 'Expect significant delays' - Traffic at standstill across Ireland amid fuel protest

"They will be doing contracts with people so a farmer will know at the start of the year where they stand if they wanted to sell grass and they would know what they were going to get paid for it."

"You tell that to a farmer and he doesn't know where he stands with beef prices or milk prices, you are diversifying your revenue stream as a farmer."

The local source said Nephin Renewable Gas has not consulted with local people yet as they are at the very early stages of a full feasibility study.

Read: Plans lodged to turn a Longford village post office into apartment unit