Decision due on Banagher meat processing plant

Offaly County Council are due to make a decision on planning permission for the extension a major beef processing plant at Banagher.

Banagher Chilling Limited is proposing a single storey extension to the existing abattoir, integrated wetlands and new site entrance spanning 50 acres on a site located 3.5km to the southeast of the town, at Boheradurrow and Meenwaun, several miles from Banagher.

In addition, the development, if approved, will see the construction of a meat cutting, packing, blast freezing and cold storage facility with an output of approximately 40 tons per day.

The building will hold processing rooms, food processing factory, cold store, loading bay and chill rooms.

Banagher Chilling Limited says the total cost of the development is estimated at €25.59 million and it will creating employment for 110 people as well as 250 jobs during construction. 

It says the development will comprise the refurbishment and extension of the existing abattoir on the site to allow a maximum slaughter rate of 140 cattle per day.

Submissions have been lodged by the public on the proposed facility 3.5km to the southeast of Banagher, at Boheradurrow and Meenwaun.

Some argue that the proposed development has the potential “to cause huge carbon dioxide emissions at a time of national and global climate crisis”.

The submission by Kampf and Wordingham also, among other items, raises concerns regarding the impact of “noise, traffic, air pollution and odour” on residents of the adjoining 50-bed nursing home, Eliza Lodge. 

A decision is due on Thursday next August 28.