Council to decide on major landfill expansion in Tandragee amid resident concerns about odors and environmental impact.
The council started a 21-day consultation period that ends on March 12. A company called Ark Enviro Ltd wants to expand it, wanting to make the current site three times bigger!
This site has caused problems in the past. People complained about bad smells, and there were environmental worries. Residents even held a meeting because of the odors.
The NI Environment Agency inspected the site and told the company to improve things. Following this, the company worked to get expansion plans ready, and that work recently sped up.
Now, residents are complaining again. A local councillor says they will fight hard against the plans, with thirty-five people having already objected, many just this week!
One person hates the current smell and thinks the extension will make it worse. They worry about health effects, and also about the area’s beauty.
Someone said the smell fills Tandragee, while another person, who lives 1.5 miles away, said opening their door makes them gag. They asked the council to reject it.
Another person wrote that the site is too close to Tandragee. They noted the town has homes and schools, and that odors and pollution could hurt it, potentially worsening air quality.
One person said approval would hurt the community for years. Another, who has lived there over twenty years and likes the peaceful countryside, said the landfill would harm living conditions.
The expansion could lower home values and cause stress and anxiety. Someone said it will not benefit the town. The council will decide after March 12.
A planning statement says it meets rules and won’t harm habitats or the landscape. The statement also addresses cultural heritage, transportation, and sensitive receptors. They asked the council to approve it.