DUNGARVAN
OBSERVER Vol. 102
THE W E S T ’S AWA K E
Friday, 17th October, 2014
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Controversial chimney fire charge is dropped by Council PEOPLE in County Waterford who experience a chimney fire in their home can be assured that they won’t be charged for calling out the Fire Brigade. The controversial €300 charge, which was described by Councillors as “dangerous” was removed by Michael Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Waterford City and County Council. At the October meeting of the Council last Thursday, Mayor James Tobin commended Mr. Walsh on his initiative for removing the charge. Mayor Tobin noted that anyone who previously
called the Fire Brigade to attend a chimney fire had to pay €300 for the call-out. It was reported in the past that Councillors knew of many people who would not call the Fire Brigade when a chimney fire occurred, because they couldn’t afford the €300 charge. “There was always the dread that some people who could not afford to pay the charge, may be burned, or their house would burn down,” said Mayor Tobin. “I commend the CEO for removing the charge, because it was a dangerous charge.” Continued on page 4
Pictured at Arboretum, County Carlow were Patrick Flynn (centre) from Stradbally, Co. Waterford, winner of Gardener of the Year with Eamonn Wall and Rachel Doyle from Arboretum, Home & Garden Heaven. SEE PAGE 12
Provision to be considered for motorhomes
Nuclear ‘threat’ 320km from Waterford
page 14
By Paul Mooney
2015 Budget highlights page 10
The existing Sellafield nuclear power plant in Cumbria, England, which is only 128 km (or 80 miles) from the Irish coast. The EU has granted permission for England to build a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, Somerset, England, which is around 320 km (200 miles) from the Waterford coastline.
WAT E R F O R D Council reacted with anger and disbelief over the EU’s decision to grant England permis-
sion to build a nuclear power plant less than 320 km from the Irish coast. It was only three years ago that a meltdown occurred at the nuclear
power plant in Fukushima, Japan, and the fallout from that disaster is still being felt, with damage to the environment, as well as over 150,000 people having to flee their homes because of
radioactive contamination, and who still continue to live in limbo. Last week, the EU granted England permission to build a €20bn nuclear plant at Hinkley Point, in
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eral EU member countries, as well as activists, An Taisce and the Department of Environment. However, a vote by the EU’s 28 commissioners narrowly approved the nuclear power plant. Continued on page 2
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