Mayo County Council is to take action over what it describes as unauthorised operations at a north Mayo-based sludge factory.
The company involved, Glancre Teoranta, based at Geesala in the Erris peninsula, has had difficulties with its operations at the former Norsk Hydro plant since it took it over four years ago.Norsk Hydro manufactured a smokeless peat briquette at the plant.
Glancre Teoranta bought the plant with the intention of manufacturing a fertiliser pellet made from sludge.
Mayo County Council ruled that the change of operation did not require planning permission, but only required a permit.
Local people objected, saying the new operation, using sludge, should require full planning permission and should be subject to all stages of the relevant planning laws.
A local group, Erris Action, appealed the decision of Mayo County Council to An Bord Pleanála, which ruled two years ago that planning permission was required to carry out the sludge processing.
Glancre Teoranta then challenged the Bord Pleanála ruling in the High Court.
In May of this year 2004, the High Court ruling on the case was given and residents and members of the Erris Action group celebrated, saying the result vindicated their stance.
The judge ruled that planning permission was required for the processing of sludge at the Mayo plant.
Throughout this time, operations have been continuing at the Geesala plant. The company says, however, it is at present producing a peat briquette and is not making the fertiliser pellet.
Err is Action group insists, however, a foul odour periodically emanates from the plant and it continues to have concerns about the local environment.
It has continuously asked Mayo County Council to intervene and cease operations at the plant since the High Court ruling eight weeks ago.
Members of Erris Action group protested outside the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council earlier this week.
The group welcomed the announcement by the county manager, Mr Des Mahon, at the meeting that the local authority had studied the High Court ruling carefully and is now ready to act on what it deems to be an unauthorised operation at the Glancre plant.
Mr Mahon said he would be telling the factory management about this decision. "Then we will take the necessary action to resolve this situation".
A spokesman for Erris Action, local resident Mr Lawrence Howard, said afterwards they were delighted with the announcement. "At last the local authority are acting on this matter", he said. "We want the planning laws complied with and at last Glancre will have to go through the rigours of these laws", Mr Howard added.