A company, Polarisgate Ltd had been granted planning permission to build a 180 Megawatt gas fired peaking power plant on a site of 7.87 hectares at Brownstown near the village of Kentstown this week. The planning has been granted subject to 22 conditions. The planning application was strongly opposed many local residents in the area. It is in close proximity to the Knockharley Landfill which opened over 20 years ago.
There have been a number of meetings and protest marches held over the last year year with locals and politicians opposing the plant. At the last protest organised by Aontú earlier this summer, the argument put forward, was that the community is already carrying the burden of major infrastructure like the Knockharley landfill, local residents are adamant that they cannot, and should not, be asked to absorb further heavy industrial development.
Aontú Cllr Emer Toibin, addressing the rally at Kentstown in late April this year.
The ‘No to Power Plant’ campaign group has pledged to continue fighting this proposal at every stage, demanding that the health, safety, and future of Kentstown residents are not ignored or dismissed in favour of the proliferation of data centres, private profit and fossil fuels powered electricity.
Today Sinn Finn’s deputy Darren O’Rourke issued the following statement. “This is a very disappointing decision. The community made a large number of submissions, representing a very comprehensive and compelling case in opposition to this proposed plant. I was happy to support them in that and, along with my Sinn Féin colleague Cllr. Helen Meyer, to make my own submissions in opposition to this plant.
I thought Meath County Council would see the strength of that case and refuse planning. I am surprised and disappointed that they didn’t. Local residents and their public representatives will have to assess this decision and decide on the next course of action. I fully expect an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála. The fight against this massive, dirty plant will surely continue.”
Polarisgate Ltd was incorporated just over three years ago the company is 100% owned by another company Art Generation Ltd whose further owned by Courtstown Technologies Ltd. Their main business is the production and distribution of electricity. It’s registered office Synergy Global, 3015 Lake Drive, Citywest, Dublin 24, Dublin. The company’s current directors Richard Walshe, Paul Ferry and Richard Ingham have been the director of 51 other Irish companies between them; 6 of which are now closed. Polarisgate Limited has 1 shareholder according to Solocheck.ie. The application was made by Jennings O’Donovan Consultant Engineers from Sligo on behalf of the company.
