Residents of Cúl na Gréine in Kilrane are calling on Wexford County Council (WCC) to revoke the license of a business operating in Kilrane Business Park under the Waste Management Regulation Act 2007 (permit and registration of facilities).
The Kilrane Concerned Residents Group (KCRG) have written to the WCC, An Bord Pleanála (ABP) and the National Waste Permit Office (NWPO) in an attempt to stop Tamer Metal Recycling Ltd’s activities at the business park.
A letter sent to Wexford County Council (WCC) dated September 29, 2021 from the KCRG outlines a number of concerns residents have with the waste management company, including what they claim is the improper use of ‘a warehouse, operations outside the fixed opening hours and pollution. The letter also claims the business was operating without a permit before a permit was granted by Wexford County Council on April 21, 2021.
A Planning Enforcement Notice, seen by this newspaper, was later issued by WCC to the company in September 2021. It ordered the company to “cease the unauthorized use of two warehouses for processing and waste recycling and waste storage”.
The residents’ letter to the council makes specific complaints about operation outside of allocated hours as set out in the granted permit. Residents have repeatedly complained about out-of-hours activities to the county council.
In its response, the WCC writes that it inspected the facility for the first time on November 24, 2020 based on a complaint received on November 23 and that during this visit “no evidence of waste was present”. on the site. Additionally, it states that a permit validation inspection was conducted on February 17, 2021 and that “mattresses and springs were found at the site.” The operator was then ordered to evacuate the waste and the site was re-inspected on April 6 and found to be clean.
Regarding the KCRG’s pollution concerns, the WCC writes that it was “satisfied that the applicant would not cause environmental pollution and would comply with emission limits, use best techniques to limit emissions and be a person fit and proper,” adding that a waste permit was issued on April 22, 2021 and the operator did not operate without a permit.
On the issue of hours of operation, WCC states that the facility is “limited to operating between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the week and between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays” and that on August 6, 2021, the operator has been informed that he could not operate outside these hours.
Although the KCRG has received a response from the WCC to its letter dated September 29, other letters have yet to receive a response. In her last correspondence, dated January 3, 2022, she again outlines her concerns.
When contacted about scheduling issues at the site, the WCC said: “We cannot comment on the status of this application while it is still under review by An Bord Pleanála, but the planning application is under review.”
In relation to complaints received and inspections carried out, Wexford County Council has issued the following statement to The people of Wexford:
“A waste complaint about a metal recycling business in Kilrane Business Park was received on 23rd November 2020. The location was inspected by our agent on 24th November 2020 and no evidence of waste was found. observed on site.
“Two more complaints were received on November 25, 2020. We have not received any other complaints regarding the premises, except for submissions regarding the waste permit application.
“On January 14, 2021, Tamer Metal Recycling Ltd applied for a waste permit for the site. On February 17, 2021, our inspector visited the premises as part of the permit application process.
“The owner complied with the instructions given to him following the inspection.
“The site was re-inspected on April 6, 2021 and found to be in compliance for the purpose of granting a waste facility permit. Tamer Metal Recycling Ltd obtained a waste permit on April 22, 2021 for the site.