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[Press Release: December 15th, 2005] Council gives planning for Bray Recycling CentreAt their meeting this week Bray Town Councillors gave planning permission for a Recycling Centre for Bray. This centre will be located at the former Ecolabs site, Beechwood Close, off the Boghall Rd. Planning permission for the centre was supported by three Green party councillors, Fianna Fail councillors Pat Vance and Joe Behan, and Fine Gael councillor Brid Collins. Labour party councillors John Mc Manus, Ann Egan and John Byrne voted against the planning permission and Cllr David Grant (FF) abstained. The Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council, Cllr Deirdre de Burca claimed that she was "delighted" that the town was now very close to having its own recycling centre. "When I canvassed last year for the local elections I was asked on every doorstep when Bray would get its own recycling centre" she says. "Wicklow County Council had been seeking a suitable site in the town for the previous two years but land prices were much too high". Cllr de Burca says that Minister Roche's verbal commitment to provide an extra 1 million euros to secure a recycling centre made a big difference and allowed Wicklow County Council to secure a site off the Boghall Rd. "The first site that was identified by the council was the T o Reilly site on Beechwood Close but this was opposed by certain councillors" says de Burca. "The alternative of the larger Ecolabs site was then examined and it was agreed that this site was satisfactory". The Green Party councillor acknowledges that there was a great deal of concern amongst residents of the nearby Riddlesford Estate about the recycling centre being located on the Ecolabs site. "They had concerns such as traffic impact, noise pollution, rats, hazardous waste, odours, late openings, and illegal dumping" says de Burca. "Wicklow County Council officials who operate the Wicklow and Arklow Recycling Centres were able to reassure them on all these fronts". Local Green Party councillor, Caroline Burrell says that all waste materials collected will be stored inside the recycling centre with no waste outdoors. She stresses that no organic waste will be accepted at the site, nor will hazardous wastes with the exception of domestic batteries and cooking oil which will be stored in specially designed containers. She points out that CCTV will be in operation to deter any possible illegal dumping. She reports that Wicklow County Council officials say there are no problems with rats at any of the other recycling centres but that a pest control company will be employed for the Bray Centre as a precaution. She points out that all Bottle banks will be indoors so that there should be no problem with noise. "There will be 35 parking spaces at the centre and we expect approximately 100-150 cars per hour" says Green Party Cllr Ciaran O'Brien. "Traffic will certainly increase in the area but it wont be at peak times and the council is satisfied that no traffic problems will arise. The centre will be open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with one late night on Thurs night until 9pm. Part of the facility will be an educational centre which will be a very important part of the service provided and will educate people how to reduce their waste and to cut their waste bills". Cllr de Burca says that she is confident that the residents of Riddlesford will see all of their concerns addressed as soon as the centre is up and running. "We have agreed to set up a Resident's Liaison Committee including residents from Riddlesford and Belmont and other estates in the area" says de Burca. "Council officials will be on this committee and it will meet on a monthly basis to address any problems that arise. I am also aware that some of the local business in the area have concerns and regret that we did not invite them in advance to visit the Arklow and Wicklow recycling centres to see how they are run. However, I intend to suggest that council officials should do this now and I am certain that the local businesses will not experience any disruption to their activities". The Green Party councillors believe that the achievement of a public recycling centre for Bray is an important achievement in terms of the town's infrastructure, and will benefit residents as they will be able to bring a much wider range of materials to the centre for recycling. However, they stress that the current site is only an interim one for a three-year period and in the meantime Bray Town Council will have to identify a suitable permanent site for a state-of-the- art recycling centre. "To get this Interim centre up and running now we need Minister Roche to give us a written commitment to provide the necessary funding" says de Burca. "I hope he does this as soon as possible so that the centre can open to cater for the Christmas waste".
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