Locals urged to attend protest to fight council's approval for Boyne waste water pipeline

Locals are being encouraged to come out in force on Saturday to protest against Meath County Council's decision to grant permission for an industrial pipeline to discharge waste water from a meat plant into the River Boyne.

The ‘Save the Boyne’ group have organised the protest walk “Go with the flow” from Navan to Drogheda on the banks of the River Boyne. The walk is aimed at raising awareness of the ongoing appeal to an Bord Pleanála, on the granting of permission by the council to Dawn Meats to install a 7.2 kilometre pipeline to pump 400,000 litres of treated waste water daily into the River Boyne at the Cotton Mills.

The plans drew huge opposition locally over the impact the pumping of huge volumes of commercial treated wastewater would have on the integrity of the river and over 400 submissions were made on the plans. The 'Save the Boyne' Facebook page, set up as a platform for individuals and groups opposed to the plans, has more than 9,000 members.

A number of third party appeals have now been lodged on the plans including appeals from the Save the Boyne Group, Slane Bridge Anglers, Silver Bridge Kayak Club, Inland Fisheries Ireland amongst others.

Speaking about the day local resident and community activist Peter Whelan, said:

“We are starting the walk at the ramparts in Navan at 9.30 am on Saturday (July 30th). We will be joined by anglers, walkers, kayakers, swimmers and members of the public who all enjoy the great amenity that our river represents.

" We encourage everyone to come along. It will be a fun day out as well as a serious message to the planners In An Bord Pleanála, who will ultimately decide whether or not this plan goes ahead. Among our group of walkers are singers and poets all giving the same message by way of poetry or song”.

Mr Whelan continued: “People don’t have to do the full 32 km . We will stop at Stackallen Bridge at around 11am . We will have a picnic and singalong at Slane around 1 pm. I had asked a local songwriter from Slane to write a song about this ridiculous decision.

"I asked Alan Louth to come to our meetings at the Mill House in Slane, back in May this year, and make notes of the sentiments being echoed by the angry fishermen and others who use and drink the water of the Boyne. Alan will sing this song for the first time in public at our picnic in Slane around lunchtime. We will then move on to Brú Na Boinne for a coffee break at 3.45 pm and we will finish in Drogheda around 6.30 pm.

“The river Boyne is a special area of conservation and needs us the people of Louth, Meath and surrounding areas to stand up to protect it from pollution. There are other options available to treat or dispose of waste. We have no issue with the meat plant itself. We know there are more sustainable ways of dealing with effluent. Reed beds are being used in similar plants in this county and in Kerry.

"We urge anyone with any interest whatsoever in the environment and the lovely River Boyne to come along on the day and join in to show our disgust at the proposal to 400,000 litres of waste water into the river every day”, concluded Mr Whelan.