By Rotten to the Point
In a strong and unified voice, the community stakeholders of Warrenpoint have expressed their complete lack of confidence in the current Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) Board. We are calling for the immediate resignation of all board members, citing multiple failures in their management of Warrenpoint Port.
The board’s credibility has been severely undermined due to misinformation published on their official website. This includes a statement by Re-Gen Waste regarding the use of the chemical Hydrocor 204 at the port, which was later claimed to be a typographical error meant to be Hydrodor. Despite this, no formal apology has been issued to the community, reflecting a lack of due diligence and disregard for public concerns.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) informed activists that Re-Gen confirmed the use of Hydrocor 204, a fact communicated to DAERA Minister Mr Muir and members during a multi-agency meeting in August 2024. The removal of the Independent Environmental Report from the WHA website, a document previously endorsed at a Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council meeting, raises further questions about transparency and accountability.
The establishment of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Community Forum was intended to address issues such as odorous emissions, chemical use, and noise disruptions at the port. However, the forum has failed to engage with the public or provide tangible outcomes, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction. Public meetings were organised to facilitate dialogue, yet the WHA board consistently declined participation, symbolising a closed-door policy towards community engagement.
In light of these ongoing issues and the evident leadership void within the WHA board, we urge the British Port Association, Department for Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd MLA, the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to intervene. Immediate action is necessary to establish a new Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Board that can restore trust and effectively manage port operations.
Our community remains committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance at Warrenpoint Port. We look forward to constructive dialogue and decisive action from relevant authorities to address these pressing concerns, including but not limited to, misinformation, incompetence and a long standing failure to control the odours emanating from WHA’s tenant, Re-Gen Waste Ltd, in Warrenpoint Port.
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 