Two separate fires at the Glancre Teo plant in Geesala, Co Mayo, last spring were among the problems the sludge-processing company had in keeping obnoxious odours from spreading into the surrounding countryside, the Mayo county manager, Mr Des Mahon, told Monday night's meeting of the county council.
A large group of local residents attended the meeting. Members of the Erris Action Group, which this year took a case to An Bord Pleanála over the plant, wore large badges which read "No Sludge - No Poison".
Mr Mahon said that Glancre Teo had written to Mayo County Council following the decision by An Bord Pleanála on August 28th that the company required planning permission to process sludge at the former Norsk Hydro plant in Geesala near Blacksod Bay.
"The company has stated that it has suspended production at Geesala and is now reviewing its legal position in light of the decision of An Bord Pleanála."
The county manager concluded by revealing details of the fires and malfunctions at the plant last spring which had affected the control of dust emanating from the processing operation.
Mr Michael Ring, a Westport councillor and Fine Gael TD, said after the meeting that this information should have been released earlier.
"The people of north Mayo had to gather funds and seek legal advice to bring this issue to An Bord Pleanála.
"The people demanded that the company should have to seek planning permission to change the operation at the site from smokeless peat briquette production to sludge-processing."
He said Mayo County Council had ruled last year that the company did not require planning permission to begin its new operation and had issued Glancre with a permit instead.
However, everyone knew that there was a material difference between the processing of peat and sludge, and An Bord Pleanála had agreed.
Pointing out that representatives of Glancre were due to meet Mayo County Council officials today, Mr Ring said: "The company asked for the meeting, but the question is: is this a pre-planning meeting?
"Will Glancre now seek planning permission for its operation at Geesala?
"Well, it's clear that the people of the area don't want a sludge factory in their midst and, as a councillor, I'm against it."
People living close to the Geesala plant remain concerned that planning permission will be granted by the council for a sludge-processing unit in Geesala.
Mr Lawrence Howard, principal of the local primary school, said: "We remain very concerned that Mayo County Council will grant planning permission for sludge-processing at Geesala.
"It now appears that An Bord Pleanála has told the authority that sludge cannot be treated at the new sewage treatment plant planned for Castlebar. This means the authority has to find a new location to treat the county's sludge and we want to make it clear that the new location will not be Geesala. We'll fight it tooth and nail."