Following exactly one year of campaigning, we welcome what we hope was the clearance of the open-air stockpile of stinking waste bales from Warrenpoint Port on Friday 30th of August.
Residents and businesses of Warrenpoint and the surrounding area now need to hear from the four major players involved in the creation and enabling of the well-documented stench problem, namely Re-Gen Waste Ltd, Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA), Northern Ireland Environmental Authority (NIEA) and our local council NMDDC – we need to hear whether they have all at last acknowledged that it’s time for a genuine return to the right for all to breathe clean air in and around Warrenpoint.
Only a clear statement from each of the above bodies will assure the public that this welcome waste clearance is not some bizarre ‘Wooden Horse of Troy’ ploy with a plot to return in stealth with a bigger and even worse stench operation, whether that be in the open-air again or under some kind of shed or temporary shack it is not welcomed in Warrenpoint.
Our community who have signed their names to a petition, and citizens of all ages who have consistently raised a voice of reason on street campaigns, public meetings, and the only South Down election hustings held before this year’s General Election campaign have all made it abundantly clear that they want an end to the Re-Gen Waste presence in Warrenpoint.
Crotlieve Independent Councillors Mark Gibbons and Jarlath Tinnelly who between them had over 2,000 first preference votes in last year’s Council Elections and were successful in bringing a special smell meeting before the Council in March of this year have also been consistent in their criticism of the very avoidable stink debacle.
Councillor Gibbons, who also works as a postman and knows the community word on the street and the doorstep better than anyone, has listened carefully and acted as a democratic conduit in representing the voices of the community – it’s time for Re-Gen to go. He and thousands of others believe that the Lislea waste company should now move their waste import/export and storage operations to a port with proper space and storage facilities, sited at a safe distance from residential areas.
We have always endeavoured to keep lines of communication open between our elected representatives and we thank all who have supported our campaign. We understand that Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray plans to meet Re-Gen Waste Ltd next week, Rotten to the Point has emailed Re-Gen Waste Ltd, Warrenpoint Harbour Authority and the DAERA /NIEA Minister Andrew Muir for statements to make it clear to the community what is happening and we still await statements from them all.
We have also made it abundantly clear to them that we want to say farewell to the cause of that long-running stench scandal – in short, it’s time for Re-gen to leave Warrenpoint for good. We wish them a cleaner future and thank all, including our very helpful local and national print, broadcast and social media who have helped us so much in reaching this point of hope for the times ahead.
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CLANRYE NEWS 