The campaign to prevent Ireland's first toxic waste incinerator being built in Co Cork was stepped up yesterday when protesters held up morning rush-hour traffic for over an hour.
The decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission to Indaver Ireland for a €95 million waste management facility at the north-eastern corner of the Ringaskiddy peninsula sparked outrage last Friday, with opposition groups vowing to fight tooth and nail to prevent the construction of the incinerator.
Yesterday morning members of the Ringaskiddy and District Residents Association held a peaceful go-slow protest at the Shanbally roundabout between 7 a.m and 8.30 a.m.
Ten vehicles caused significant delays to motorists, many of whom were making their way to work in the predominately pharmaceutical and chemical industrial area.
According to the protesters the move was a bid to highlight the ease with which the village of Ringaskiddy can be effectively "shut down" by only a small number of protesters.
While some campaigners drove their cars slowly around the roundabout, others stood alongside them, holding placards in the air, which conveyed their opposition to the proposed plant.
"Minister Cullen declared war on Ringaskiddy on Friday and this is our response. Our point is if we can do this with 10 cars, just imagine what we can do with 100," the secretary of the Ringaskiddy Residents Association, Ms Audrey Hogan, said.
Residents of the lower harbour area expressed their shock and bitter disappointment last Friday when An Bord Pleanála ruled against their campaign to prevent planning permission for the facility.
However, they say they are determined to fight the battle all the way, and are considering taking a judicial review of the decision.
A meeting of the Ringaskiddy residents and other concerned parties has been called for tomorrow night, at which they plan to discuss the next step in the campaign.
Invitations have been issued to all local representatives and Government deputies in Cork to attend what is anticipated to be a heated meeting.
The public meeting will be held at the Ringaskiddy Community Centre tomorrow night at 8 p.m.