By John Cavendish On Monday 19 November 2007, after prolonged deliberation, An Bord Pleanála, gave the goahead for the construction of the proposed municipal waste incinerator on the Poolbeg peninsula. Even though some 2,500 people objected and no local representative supported it, the facility was given the green light by a unanimous decision by the Bord that even overruled the recommendation of inspector Padraic Thornton, who had only approved the burning of 500,000 tonnes, to allow 600,000 to be burnt.

The approved building is to be located to the west of the Waste Water Treatment Works on a 13.5 acre site and will be 200m long, 130m wide and 52m tall with two 100m chimney stacks. The incinerator will produce electricity and district heating for 50,000 homes. An Bord Pleanála applied traffi c restrictions on trucks heading to the site, hoping that most will go down the port tunnel and across the East-Link Bridge.

Above: Paul Maloney and Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr. Paddy Bourke admire the Docklands illuminations (see page 17). Right: A Christmas display in Murtaghʼs hardware shop in Sandymount.