Stormont urged to intervene and stop the Killeeshil ‘stink’

THE campaign group which has been fighting for action to address a bad odour coming from a mushroom plant in Killeeshil is now urging Ministerial intervention to address the problem.

Cabragh Concerned Residents Association (CCRA) last month held a large-scale protest against the smell coming from Northway Mushrooms. It was attended by more than 200 local people.

The issue has been causing widespread concern within the community for almost five years. GAA training sessions and school and community activities have been disrupted because of the smell from the plant.

Now, the CCRA want their concerns to be addressed by Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, and Education Minister, Paul Givan.

“This continues to plague our community. We continue to be ignored by our Ministers, our regulatory bodies and health agencies who are here to protect us,” the CCRA said.

“Andrew Muir, will you help us and take action in your role as Minister?

“Paul Givan, the children in our local primary school is affected, will you take action to protect them?

“This is a clear health risk. Help us protect the people who have lived here their whole lives, and continue to make their home in Cabragh.”

The group has also said it is aware that Mid Ulster District Council has confirmed that they are going to carry out monitoring at the site.

“We believe that they are currently still in the process of procurement and we are awaiting a start state for the monitoring,” the group added.

Confirmation that the monitoring is to take place was revealed at a recent meeting of Mid Ulster District Council.

Director of Community and Place, Ryan Black, said that the local authority has sourced the equipment.

He made the confirmation after interventions by Sinn Fein councillor, Gael Gildernew.

“We have sourced the monitor that we’re going to use, and if we haven’t completed we’re about to complete the procurement exercise. Once that is completed we will agree then the timeline in relation to their installation on the monitoring period. That should be imminent,” Mr Black said.