This article is from page 8 of the 2011-12-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A BAN on the sale of smoky coal and the growth of unregulated doorto-door operators is “crippling” the coal trade in Ennis, a meeting has heard.
Local fuel merchant and independent councillor, Frankie Neylon says businesses are struggling because of the legislation, which he described as “flawed”.
In June, the Minister for the En- vironment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, announced that – with effect from August 1 – Ennis would be added to the list of towns and cities covered by the ‘Smoky Coal Ban’, under which it is illegal to market, sell or distribute bituminous or ‘smoky’ coal.
Under the Air Pollution Act, sellers found in breach of the ban could face fines of up to € 5,000.
Cllr Neylon told the December meeting of Ennis Town Council that traders in the town are encountering “huge problems” with the ban. He said the restrictions in place on local fuel merchants are “crippling the trade”.
He said the legislation was intended for cities and not towns of Ennis’ size.
He said there is no ban in place to prevent sellers from bringing smoky coal into Ennis, a practice he said was common.
Cllr Neylon said that if the gov- ernment are serious about banning smoky coal, “they should ban it at source”.
“Every night of the week there are people coming into town selling smoky coal,” he added.
Cllr Neylon said his own sales are down 53 per cent on last year.
A report released in September by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that the burning of bituminous or so-called smoky coal has had an impact on air quality in Ennis.
Cllr Neylon said that if unregulated coal sellers are allowed to operate in Ennis then “emissions are going to go through the roof ”.
Town Manager Ger Dollard said the whole purpose of the ban is to improve air quality in Ennis.
He said Clare County Council, the body responsible for enforcing the ban, is willing to meet with local fuel merchants in order to discuss and resolve any difficulties.