‘Patience has run out’ over smell in Warrenpoint: Hazzard

The South Down MP was in the Port meeting Senior Management alongside party colleagues Sinéad Ennis MLA, and Cllr Mickey Ruane following a growing number of complaints in the last few weeks.

Following the meeting, Mr Hazzard said: “It is clear that despite all the assurances that were provided in the summer, the Harbour Authority have not yet found a permanent solution to this unpleasant issue.

“Our local community, including many nearby businesses were pragmatic and patient in allowing the Harbour Authority space and time to address this issue in the summer. However we are now just a few weeks out from Christmas and again we are experiencing intermitting foul smells coming from the Port.

“This is simply not good enough, and today I made it clear that public patience has now run out. The public rightly expect the Harbour Authority to give this issue the focus, attention, and resources that it requires in order to find a permanent solution urgently.

“It is positive that Warrenpoint Harbour Authority will now establish an independent investigation into this issue; with a full, evidence based report set to be finalised within a few weeks. In order to rebuild trust and confidence with the local community, it is vital that this report is made available to the public as soon as possible.

“I also welcome the fact that Warrenpoint Harbour Authority will soon acquire the services of an Environmental Officer; evidently a position of significant importance at a site such as Warrenpoint Port. Indeed the hitherto absence of such expertise unfortunately speaks volumes.Mr Hazzard concluded: “Following our meeting I am sure that Warrenpoint Harbour Authority have been left in no doubt that public patience has now run out.

"Their failure to listen; to communicate effectively; and to permanently eradicate this problem is not good enough. The people of Warrenpoint are now clearly saying ‘enough is enough’ and they must respond accordingly.”

In a statement issued to the Newry Reporter on Wednesday, the Harbour Authority acknowledged “the ongoing issue with some of our tenant’s operations in relation to recent odours”.

"This is not as a result of any direct negligence nor misappropriation of WHA. We continue to strive to help secure a full and final resolution to this matter,” they said.

“We recently updated Chris Hazzard MP for South Down and his colleagues about what we have been doing to resolve this. We have been challenging our tenant ReGen daily on this issue to refine their processes so that a full and complete resolution may be achieved. This is despite that throughout this period, the licensing body, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency has confirmed that ReGen remain compliant.”

David Holmes CEO Warrenpoint Harbour said, “We gave assurances a number of weeks ago that further measures would be taken. We completed a tender process and appointed a company to carry out an Environmental Investigation. This is ongoing and we hope to have the findings to present publicly in the coming weeks.

“We had previously as a business also agreed to recruit an Environmental Officer to support these processes, to be able to liaise with our resident neighbours, and to progress our environmental credentials. That recruitment process closes this week.”

David Holmes continued, “We have been exporting RDF through Warrenpoint for 10 years. This current issue developed unexpectedly over the summer and even though it has dissipated substantially, we should not be having such an issue. The WHA Board is clear that this operation must be sustainable to be tenable.

“Without wishing to deflect in any way from this ReGen issue but for the reason of thoroughness, it has become apparent during investigations that there may also be other sewage issues in and around Warrenpoint that are also causing smells. WHA has reported these concerns and incidences to the local Environmental Health Office so WHA can focus on any port-related residual issues.

“We are very proud of our place in the community, of our Community Fund and all the many projects that we are involved in locally. We are proud of our people and the 400 indirect jobs we support in the locality in our island economy.

“We do hope the people impacted by this will continue to engage directly with us and to give us a little more time to complete a full investigation. Our door is always open.”