The fires that continue to rage after a series of explosions through an oil storage depot at Hemel Hempstead near London are most alarming a spokeswoman for CHASE said, and must send out a major warning to every community where such very dangerous installations are to be located.

The site at Ringaskiddy where planning permission and a waste licience for two incinerators and a waste transfer station were granted must now be stopped. The waste transfer station where all the most hazardous explosive material is to be stored is less than

• 30 meters from the National Maritime College with a student /teaching population of 850
  
• Approximately 500 m from the Naval Base on Haulbowline Island (1000 personnel)
  
• Within 5 mins walk from of Rinaskiddy village.
  
• Cobh, Great Island Monkstown, Passage West, Carrigaline are all in a 4 mile radius.
  
• Less than 10 km from Cork city (123,000) Midleton and other east Cork towns.

Mr Phillip Jones Senior Planner at the Planning Oral Hearing in his final report stated, “the Board is not satisfied. …that the proposed development would not pose significant risks to public safety in the event of major hazard, in view of the proximity of the site to National Maritime College, and to nearby Seveso11 establishments...having regard to the inadequacy of emergency infrastructure in the area and the location of the site at the end of the peninsula, with limited road access”

This site has failed the WHO Guidelines for site selection, which are there to protect people. This facility poses too great a threat to the people of Cork and must be stopped.

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For further information:

Mary Hurley, CHASE PRO, 021 4813070 086 8162448
Mary O’Leary, CHASE Chairperson, 021 4811952 086 8177737