16.02.2004 -- Reenascreena sludge plant dropped

The community of Reenascreena, near Rosscarbery, West Cork was celebrating on Monday night as John O'Regan, the developer proposing to site a controversial sludge processing plant in the area announced his intention to withdraw his planning application.

Opposition to the proposal had been building since locals first heard of plans for an industrial waste-treatment plant in this idylic rural setting. The developers experienced the level of community discontent first-hand when they faced a full-house at Reenascreena Community Hall on Wednesday 11 February at a meeting to promote their proposal. In a statement to another capacity crowd at the Reenascreena Community Hall on Monday 16 February, Mr O'Regan announced that he respected the views of the people of Reenascreena, and that he would be withdrawing his planning application the following morning.

Residents applauded the announcement, and an almost palpable sense of relief flooded the hall as people realised the project would not go ahead.

"The community of Reenascreena is delighted that John and Sheila O'Regan have acknowledged the overwhelming local opposition to their proposal and have seen fit to withdraw their planning application," said Calvin Jones, spokesman for Reenascreena Community Action Group. "We now hope to harness the energy and momentum generated by this negative issue and use it to promote positive projects in the Reenascreena area."

Reenascreena Community Action Group will be investigating a number of potential projects over the coming weeks, all with a view to improving Reenascreena Village and the surrounding area.

The community website (http://www.reenascreena.nivlac.net) set up as part of the recent campaign will now be maintained as a community resource, and will be updated regularly with news and information relevant to the Reenascreena area.