The Louth Environmental Group organised a silent vigil of protest at the main door of the town hall at 5.30pm on Tuesday the ninth of August last. The vigil was attended by members of People Before Profit Dundalk, concerned residents of the lower point road, environmentalists as well as members of LEG.
The purpose of the vigil was to focus the attention of members of our local Planning Authority, the councillors of Dundalk Town Council, on the issues around the proposal by the manager which would see, ultimately, as many as 200 more houses built in this highly ecologically sensitive area and the environs of Dundalk's sewage treatment plant.
Research carried out by LEG has established that there are several serious health and safety issues regarding living in close proximity to such plants. There is not as yet adequate research in the area that would justify placing residents into such unknown peril. Research that does exist suggests brain morphological changes in rats living in an environment with levels of hydrogen sulfide equal to that emitted by the Dundalk sewage plant (when there is a rotten odour smell).
Despite the fact that the meeting of our planning authority was held in secret (the secretary of the LEG Mr. Mark Fitszimmons was denied access by the chairperson of the council, Marianne Butler), the LEG has learned that the manager's recommendation to adopt the zonings which would permit the residential development was deferred by the councillors and the LEG understand that informal meetings of the councillors will be held to further brief themselves on the point road zoning matters before another formal planning meeting is held (hopefully not in secret) to finally decide the issue.
The LEG and the other participants at the vigil are extremely concerned that the manager will have his way and that the residential zonings will be confirmed for the lower point road lands in spite the obvious dangers.
We will keep you posted on further developments, together we are strong.
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