Protest about smell held in Warrenpoint

A PROTEST was held last week in Warrenpoint to highlight a recurring smell in the town.
It was organised by campaign group Rotten to the Point, with local residents taking part in a walk and peaceful protest last Thursday evening.
Last August, Warrenpoint Harbour Authority issued an apology for a smell emanating from the town’s port, which it said was being caused by household rubbish being recycled by its tenant Re-Gen Waste.
In February, an environmental audit report on the issue, which included preventative recommendations for the future, was published by Practical Waste Solutions Ltd.
The Rotten to the Point group has described the smell as “intolerable” and highlighted that a petition has been launched calling for the removal of Re-Gen’s port waste transfer station.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard and party colleagues Sinéad Ennis MLA and Cllr Mickey Ruane met with representatives from Re-Gen last week to discuss “ongoing concerns with the foul odour emanating from Warrenpoint Port”. 
Speaking following the meeting, the South Down MP said: “Sinn Féin met with Re-Gen to discuss the intermittent foul odour affecting Warrenpoint. 
“We made it very clear that the status quo is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the local community any longer.
“Re-Gen must get serious about tackling this problem once and for all if they wish to continue operating in Warrenpoint.
“Re-Gen have agreed to urgently consider the points put to them today, and we look forward to a public statement of intent in the very near future.
“Sinn Féin will continue to keep the pressure on Re-Gen to ensure action is taken to eradicate this issue once and for all,” Mr Hazzard concluded.