‘Visual impact will be horrendous’

Robert Foster, who is a member of the Mallusk Community Action Group said the plan was right for the country, but just in the wrong place.

He said: “The size and visual impact of the scheme will be horrendous. This is a very rural area that will be a major negative impact on the whole countryside.

“I can’t understand how or why the Environment Minister, who turned down an application just a mile-and-a-half down the road, will approve this. It makes no sense.

“I understand there is a need for this facility, but I don’t understand why they have chosen this site.

“And it’s not objecting for objecting’s sake. There is the ideal industrial location at Dargan that to me has not been considered.”

UUP councillor Mark Cosgrove added: “Residents will have concerns around the visual impact of the proposal, the smell and traffic management issues.

“I will be making robust arguments about the traffic issue given the current activity.

“And it is up to the developing authorities to clearly demonstrate that there will be no odours an the visual impact will not impact on local residents amenities.

“I would encourage all residents to appraise themselves of the facts during the public consultation and then make an informed decision on the matter.

“We can not continue to take waste to landfill and the residents of Mallusk will know all too well the smell dirty process that is.

“I am also pleased that meetings have already taken place with representatives from both Mayfield Residents Committee and the Mallusk Community Action Group. I have no doubt there will be the need for many of the communities very real concerns to be dealt with in much more detail and there will no doubt be very robust conversations however as would like to place on record the fact that I am pleased that the groups have been briefed prior to the full launch and also that commitments to future meetings were given”

Alliance Alderman John Blair added: “My responsibility will be to the Newtownabbey ratepayer, the people that elected me and I will be examining every aspect of the scheme that will be put before me.

“But I will be quite prepared to defend any plan provided it is not unsuitable or detrimental to traffic in the area.”