Elected representatives reiterate opposition to Newtownabbey incinerator proposal

The £240m project earmarked for the Boghill Road is designed to deal with waste from a significant portion of the population and includes Mechanical and Biological Treatment, Energy from Waste Thermal Treatment and Incinerator Bottom Ash Treatment facilities, plus a Refuse Derived Fuel Bale Storage building and an administration/visitor centre.

A spokesperson for the Becon Consortium said: “This grid connection offer, accepted by the Becon Consortium who is bidding to build the facilities for the six local councils in the arc21 area, is an important element of the overall project and will facilitate supply of electricity to the national grid, enough to power up to 30,000 homes.

“The grid connection for the planned installation will facilitate an export capacity of 18.1MW. It is estimated that this will contribute over 50,000 MWh per year towards renewable energy targets while enhancing Northern Ireland’s security of supply and increasing the diversity of energy production in pursuit of climate change and net zero carbon targets.

For more on the announcement, read here

Responding to the latest development, South Antrim DUP MLA, Pam Cameron said: “Apart from the grid connection, nothing has significantly changed over all these years to show that this incinerator is needed or financially sound for the local taxpayer.

“As Northern Ireland continues to invest and increase in recycling, the supposed necessity for such a project becomes even less than it already currently is.

“Even regardless of the serious questions which remain over the effectiveness of this massive project, the proposed location right next to a growing residential area is also fundamentally wrong in my opinion and that of the local community.

“The recent announcement of the grid connection changes nothing and should not in any way influence the decision of the Infrastructure Minister who ultimately should consider the overall environmental and economic viability of having to feed this incinerator with more and more waste.”

South Antrim DUP MP Paul Girvan added: “Local concerns to the Hightown proposal remain firmly in place, I would pay tribute to the work and determination of local residents who have campaigned hard for many years to place these concerns firmly on the agenda.

“As we move forward I have no doubt this work will continue in earnest to ensure the voices of local residents are heard.”

SDLP Cllr Noreen McClelland said “we will stand with the community against this unwanted and unnecessary waste facility”.

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