A Louth county councillor has secured leave from the High Court to challenge plans to build a "thermal or gasification" plant within the county which is intended to dispose of waste from four counties.
Mr Justice Lavan granted leave to Mr Arthur Morgan, Ardaghy, Omeath, Co Louth, to seek an order, in judicial review proceedings, quashing a decision of Louth County Council of January 15th purporting to rescind an earlier decision not to build such a plant in the county. The judge also granted an injunction preventing implementation of the North East Regional Waste Ma nagement Plan pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Mr Frank Clarke SC, for Mr Morgan, said last October, the council passed a resolution that it would not build or fund the thermal plant within the county. However, in November, a letter was sent to each councillor by the county manager inviting a review of the decision.
On January 15th, the council decided, by 16 votes to nine, to rescind its October decision.
Standing orders said the "rescinding" order required a two thirds majority, Mr Clarke said. A margin of 16 votes to nine was a little under the two-thirds majority but the council chairman declared the resolution carried.