Supportive Quotes

Mitchel Mc Laughlin offers his full support.  Read more here.

Ken Livingstone:  "incineration should be skipped in order to use more efficient ways of getting rid of waste" (Key speaker at thematic session on climate change in the European Parliament in Brussels)

Barbara De Brun (at the same session as Ken Livingstone): "I listened carefully to what Ken Livingstone had to say on the subject of incineration. This comes at an apt time as the residents of the Lough Neagh area meet tonight in Crumlin to discuss the proposed incinerator. This follows on from the meeting I attended in Glenavy last week where residents put forward a series of reasons why an incinerator should not be built in their area. Speaking in the European Parliament Climate Change Committee on the subject of mass heat generation, Ken Livingstone pointed out that building big installations, usually on the coast and away from the big centres of population wasted as much as 65% of the heat produced through the cooling process. He argued in favour of local generation of heat close to where it would be used."

David Hilditch, MLA, East Antrim:

“I do support the residents on this issue.  I wish you well and do hope that you can come to a agreement with the planning office.”

 Thomas Burns, MLA

“Given the problems with Ulster Farm By-Products in the past, I feel your concerns are very valid and I share them entirely.  I believe that Glenavy is not the right location for this power plant.  I am also not convinced about the green credentials of this project.  The ‘fuel’ is renewable but I am gravely concerned about the potential emissions from this proposed facility.”

Councillor Alan Lawther (South East Antrim):

“I am interested in finding out more about the proposals and making sure they are environmentally acceptable.”

Mitchel McLaughlin supports Glenavy community campaign
 
Speaking in the Assembly debate on the Rose Energy proposal for a chicken litter waste incinerator in Glenavy Sinn Féin Spokesperson, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (South Antrim) said:

 "My Party Colleague Paul Butler in bringing the issue of this proposal to the Assembly for debate was reflecting the justifiable concerns of the community throughout the Lough Neagh area. I support the call by the residents of Glenavy and Lough Neagh area on the Minister for the Environment, Arlene Foster, to initiate a public inquiry to consider the full environmental impact of the proposal for a chicken litter waste incinerator to be built in an area designated as being of high scenic value.

 "I also share the justifiable concerns of the residents around the long term environmental impact, health implications for the community and other concerns particularly in light of the fact that it would seem that alternative solutions to the waste issue – such as Anaerobic Digestion - have not been considered.

 "The impression being drawn by those in favour of this incinerator is that there is no alternative. But the simple fact is that there is more than one solution to addressing the Nitrates Directive. I hope common sense will prevail and other procedures will be considered.  Anaerobic digestion for instance can be done on smaller scales and in close proximity or even on site of chicken farms, eliminating the need for mass transportation, in contrast to the present proposal which would necessitate wholesale importation of chicken waste into the area to facilitate the incineration option. A further burden and more pollution would then be imposed on the local population through the increased heavy vehicle traffic.

 "Furthermore, the proposed development would be likely to cause serious water pollution in the Lough – a major source of drinking water and thereby pose further risk to public health.

 "I fail to understand the rationale for placing such a facility in South Antrim. This is not a case of – not in my back yard – but a legitimate question considering that there is no significant poultry production in the South Antrim constituency. What is the rationale for building such a facility where it would be necessary to ship the waste into a rural area with little poultry production?

 "I call on the Minister to listen to the concerns of the local population and use her powers to reject this proposal."

Friends of the Earth:

“The incineration of meat and bonemeal and chicken litter is not carbon neutral and so contributes to climate change.  One significant problem associated with incineration is that it produces hazardous waste in the form of ash.  This will require a dedicated hazardous waste landfill site to deal with it.  Currently no such site exists in Northern Ireland. 

“The agricultural waste still exists however, and needs to be dealt with.  Friends of the Earth advocates the development of a network of small-scale anaerobic digestors (AD) connected to Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants.  The digestor produces a sterile compost and biogas which can be used in the CHP plant to produce electricity and heat. 

“The AD and CHP can be used by poultry farmers, rendering plants, farmers (or clusters of farmers) to both deal with their biodegradable waste and produce heat and electricity for their businesses.  As such, it is much more efficient than large electricity only plants, some distance from their end user, such as the one proposed.”

Friends of the Earth does not support the proposed chicken litter and meat and bonemeal incinerator for the following reasons:

1 – the plant is a waste incinerator, with all the problems associated with such facilities;

2 – In particular, the plant will produce hazardous waste which will require specialised landfill capacity; and

3 – It is an inefficient way to produce electricity and as such is not compatible with the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions."

Environment and Heritage Service:

“The fringes of Lough Neagh are renowned for their wildlife and habitat value.  Extensive areas are designated as ASSI (Areas of Special Scientific Interest) for fen/marsh and moss habitats which support many rare examples of flora and fauna.  The entire fringe of Lough Neagh is also designated as a Special Protection Area (recognising its importance as a habitat for breeding birds).  The shores of Lough Neagh are also extremely sensitive and are classified as an ‘Area of Scenic Quality.’  Lough Neagh and its shores have a diversity of habitats and the lough is nationally and internationally important for its wetland birds.”

General Quotes

Minister for the Environment, Arlene Foster:

“I will work closely with my colleagues and with all the key stakeholders to build a society which will be an example of good practice on environmental issues – a society which will be attractive to visitors and investors and of which all of us who live here can be proud.”

Minister for Tourism, Nigel Dodds:

“It is vital to ensure that the landscape quality of our most scenic areas is maintained” – when talking about the location of turbines and wind farms on 14 February 2008.

 “Wind is the cheapest and most readily available source” – said Economy Minister Nigel Dodds, when talking about sustainable energy on 4 March 2008.

Quotes Against

 Councillor Stephen Nicholl, Antrim North West:

“While I understand your concerns, regrettably I cannot support you and your colleagues at this time.”

Roy Beggs, UUP East Antrim, MLA