The planning appeals board has postponed an oral hearing into contentious proposals to build a meat and bonemeal incinerator in Meath.

An Bord Pleanála was expected to hear the case next week, kicking off several weeks of discussions.

It appears no new date for the hearing has been scheduled.

The incinerator proposals have been put forward by College Proteins, who plans to build the facility next to its rendering factory, outside Nobber.

It is expected the plant will have the capabilities to burn 105,000 tonnes of animal by-product ever year, and generate enough electricity for 4,000 homes.

However, the plans have faced strong opposition from a local pressure group, who has voiced health and safety concerns.

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Yesterday, An Bord Pleanála issued a letter to stakeholders informing them that the hearing had been postponed.

The board said the decision had been made in order to allow adjoining local authorities time to make submissions about the incinerator.

This issue was raised by campaigners, at a preliminary hearing, earlier this week in Navan.

They claimed only Meath Council Council had been allocated enough time to make a submission and complained Armagh authorities had not been contacted at all.

The North East Against Incineration (NEAI) group welcomed the board's decision to postpone the hearing.

NEAI Chairman Christy O'Reilly said he was delighted with the decision and said it would allow campaigners more time to prime their case.

Locally elected representatives also expressed contentment that the oral hearing suspended indefinitely.

See: Meath Incinerator Construction To Start Next Month

See: Meath Incinerator Still Facing Opposition

(PR/JM)