PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: October 1, 2003
COBH GP APPEALS TO MINISTER FOR IMMEDIATE HEALTH
STUDY FOR HARBOUR
DAY 8 INCINERATOR HEARING
On
Day 8, 1 October, 2003, of the Bord Pleanala hearing into the Hazardous Waste
Incinerator proposal for Ringaskiddy, Co Cork,
Cobh GP - Dr George FitzGerald called on the Minister for Health to
commission a full, Government funded, scientific survey of the health of the
people of Cobh and other Harbour Areas, which was one of the recommendations of
the Health Review Board (HRB) report into incineration and landfill. He told the hearing that health services are
already at breaking point. He could not see how they could cope with any
further load as a result of health effects of industrial emissions or accidents
Cllr
Peter Kelly, leader of the Fine Gael party in Cork County Council also
addressed the Bord, and pointed out that contrary to a necessity for an
enormous 100 thousand ton toxic incinerator, EPA (Environmental Protection
Agency) figures indicate that there would be approximately 15 thousand tons of
hazardous waste available for incineration in Cork.
The National Hazardous Waste Management Plan put this figure at less
than 12 thousand tons.
Cllr
Kelly also told the hearing that there would be no new road to alleviate their
traffic jams for 12 to 20 years. Traffic
volumes from industry, the car ferries, the old Hamond Lane metal recycling
site and port warehouses already clog the Ringaskiddy and Shanbally roads the hearing
had earlier been told. Ringaskiddy parents had described the nightmare of
crossing roads and getting children to school as things are, without lorries
carrying dangerous loads of toxic waste for an incinerator being added to the
equation.
----- ENDS ----
For further information
contact:
Linda Fitzpatrick, CHASE PRO Tel:
021 4374506 Mobile: 087 741084
Mary O’Leary, Chairperson, CHASE
Tel: 021 4811952 Mobile: 086
8177737
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