MLA tackles Minister over Craigmore stink

A CONTROVERSIAL landfill site at Craigmore near Garvagh has led to renewed efforts to establish what the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is doing to clean up the operation and get rid of the stench which is plaguing local residents.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th May 2010, 15:01 BST
Updated 14th May 2010, 15:04 BST

East Derry SDLP MLA John Dallat has tabled a priority question to the Minister for the Environment Edwin Poots.

Mr Dallat said: “The smell is particularly penetrating and of a kind which is not only filthy but sickening.

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“In a previous question tabled by me it was disclosed that 12 complaints were received about the site of which seven were about odour and this year there has been another spate of complaints about the nauseating smell emanating from this site. The operators, Coleraine Skip Hire, have been asked to submit capping and gas proposals.

“The previous owner of the site was jailed for illegal dumping but no directive was made by the department to have the waste repatriated to the Republic where much of it, including hospital waste, came from.

“I held several meetings with the Environment Agency over the last three years and have raised the issue in the Assembly to I am blue in the face and at this stage local residents are completely fed up with the lack of action coming from NIEA.

“I have now asked the Minister to significantly increase the number of inspectors of this and other landfill sites and will continue to campaign against any further planning permission for increasing the capacity of the Craigmore site.”

Related topics:John DallatEdwin PootsDerry