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Home > Departments > Environment > Holmestown Waste Management Facility > Site Selection > Sites Considered

Sites Considered

Desk Study

To eliminate in more detail areas potentially unsuitable for landfill, the desk study Commenced with the transfer of the suitable land bank map Figure 3 onto Ordnance Survey Discovery Series maps at a scale of 1:50,000.

Potential sites were chosen on the basis of perceived remoteness, proximity to road infrastructure, housing density, topography and potential screening (usually forestry). The Council’s engineering staff provided local knowledge.

Windscreen Survey - Phase 1

Twenty-nine sites were identified during the desk study as shown on Figure 4. Each site was inspected visually to ascertain physical features and general suitability for landfill development. The following characteristics were examined for each site:

  • Location
    Sites were considered in accordance with their haul distance from centres of population.
     
  • Access
    Access has two components, namely, access from major routes to the environs of the site and access to the site itself.
     
  • Site Suitability
    This criterion relates to the relative ease of site development. It accounts for site size, shape and topography.
     
  • Potential Intrusiveness
    Intrusiveness considers the ecological value of the site itself and the impacts that a potential landfill might have on surrounding land use.
     
  • Distance from Dwelling Houses
    Dwelling houses within 250m of the landfill footprint are undesirable. The existence of houses at a distance of between 250 m and 500m gives cause for special consideration.
     
  • Visual Impact
    Visual impact relates to the potential impact of the site on both nearby and distant dwellings and on the ability of the site to be adequately screened from such dwellings.
     
  • County Development Plan
    The draft County Development Plan 2000 was referred to with respect to infrastructural and conservation policy.
     
  • General
    The following criteria although not considered in detail during the windscreen survey, were nonetheless kept in mind under the heading, Site Suitability.
     
  • Physical Aspects
    • Soils
    • Bedrock geology
    • Land use
    • Elevation
    • Aquifer type
    • Forestry
       
  • Cultural Aspects
    • Scenic views Tourist routes
    • Hill walks Houses of interest
    • Fishing, lakes and rivers Parks
    • Picnic sites Hotels/hostels

Formulation of Preliminary Shortlist

The rationale behind selection for consideration and elimination or otherwise is given in Table 1 below.

Site No. Townland National Grid
Co-ordinates 		Reason for Consideration Rejected
1 Island 3015, 1333 Low housing density, proximity to N11, screened from road (by forest), poorly drained soil. Good location with respect to centre of waste. Y Local access to N11 difficult. Overlooked from Ballyrannel.
2 Kilgibbon/
Edermine		 2977, 1343 Lands in Council ownership, low density housing proximity to N11. Good location with respect to centre of waste. Y Proximity to River Fergus would make excavation below existing ground level impracticable. Overlooked by Dublin/Rosslare Railway (adjacent). Major aquifer.
3 The Deeps/
Killurin		 2983, 1263 Adjacent to existing site, proximity to N11, low housing density. Y Protected structure (ref. County Development Plan) numerous deciduous trees, environmental impact of old site not distinguishable from impact from new site. Adjacent to NHA.
4 Holmestown 2973, 1230 Low density housing good screening, proximity to Wexford and N25, potential for direct access from N25. N Special consideration to be given to nearby nursing home and access.
5 Moortown 2913, 1147 Good screening, level site, easy access from R733 Adequate area within forestry. N Housing density is high particularly on the by-road which encircles the site. Isolated from population centres of Gorey and Enniscorthy
6 Rochestown 2914, 1155 Good screening, level site, easy access from R733 Y Isolated from population centres of Gorey and Enniscorthy. 7-8 miles from a national primary road. Limited area screened by forestry.
7 Forth Mountain 2967, 1186 Good screening, low density of housing Y Proximity to public amenity areas. Access only by third class roads.
8 Ballywether 2955, 1220 Good screening, particular felled forestry, medium density of housing, proximity to N25 Y Suitable space within forest is restricted.
 
9 Cools 2965, 1212 Extensive forested region, well screened, regional road feasible, proximity to Wexford. N Access to woodland would require new entrance from R738.
10 Coolfullaun 2941, 1278 Low density of housing, good screening provided by forestry. Y Poor access via third class roads.
11 Kilcorral 3060, 1290 Medium density housing Y Poor access via third class roads. Limited suitable area.
12 Turkyle 3060, 1322 Rolling topography, low density of housing. Local pockets of well-screened land. Y Access is very poor via third class roads to the N11 or R741.
13 Ballina Lower 3044, 1352 Low density development, extensive forestry. Y Poor access via third class roads to N11, but site should be considered in conjunction will 15 below.
14 Ballinkeel 3026, 1344 Close proximity (6km) to N11, site is screened by substantial hedgerows. Y Intensive housing development on access road to N11.
15 Kilbride 3055, 1375 Well situated in respect of population centres, good access via R744 to N11 and Enniscorthy. Alternative access to Wexford and Gorey via R744 and R741. Large forested areas, selected zones not overlooked. Y River Sow which runs through the site is a source of public water supply.
16 Ballinlug West 1853, 1435 Screened by forestry, good access to N30 via R730. Y Locally high density of housing, difficult access, remote.
17 Ballyhighland 2867, 1405 Screened by forestry, good access to N30 via R730, low density. Y Limited development potential. Remoteness from centre of waste generation, steep topography.
18 Knockredmond 2883, 1363 Screened by forestry, good access to N30, low density. Y Significant number of new houses. Limited area that is not overlooked. New memorial adjacent.
19 Ballymacksey
Bridge		 2882, 1352 Extensive screening by forestry, good access to N30, low density. Y Local access roads poor. Too small for required footprint.
 
20 Camolin Park 3055, 1540 Screened by forestry, low density, proximity to N11. Y Linear site may constrict development. Listed buildings.
21 Newbridge Wood 3055, 1553 Extensive forestry, low density, proximity to N11. N Special attention should be given to access from N11.
22 Coolroe 3028, 1517 Screened by forestry, good access via N11 Y Very difficult access, remote from Wexford. High density of housing. Poor local roads.
23 Lodgewood 2994, 1487 Screened by forestry, good access to N11. Y Difficult access. Inadequate screening, high housing density.
24 Commons or Newtown 2763, 1283 Screened by forestry, close proximity to N25, low density. Y Steep, high housing density, tourism venue.
25 Millgunter 2780, 1264 Screened by immature forestry, close proximity to N25, low density. N Forestry currently inadequate for screening. But will improve with time.
26 Rathturtin 2830, 1310 Not visible from N30. Forested area. Good screening. Y High visibility from local roads. Poor night distance on N30.
27 Garrybran 3125, 1405 Remote map indicates low density of housing development. Y Poor access by third class roads and laneways close to Kilmuchridge.
28 Ballowen 3150, 1613 A forested area, easily accessed. Y New high density housing.
 
29 Corcanon 3180, 1656 Minor aquifer, close to main road. Y High density, new housing, high vulnerability (low soil cover).


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