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8 Jan 2019

Plastic News : RTP signals it is moving ahead with Ireland plant

by admin | posted in: Press | 0

In a statement to PRW, a sister publication of Plastics News, Danny Miles, RTP vice president and managing director, Europe, said: “We welcomed the decision of Cork County Council to grant planning permission for our project in Skibbereen, which gave due consideration to the observations received from local residents.

“We also welcomed the decision of An Bord Pleanala to affirm the Cork County Council’s original determination to grant planning permission.

SOS Fundraising Pack

by admin | posted in: Fundraising | 0

Introduction to SOS Fundraising Pack

Help our Campaign to succeed through doing your bit to raise crucial funds for legal action and representation when and if it becomes necessary.

The SOS campaign relies completely on volunteers and public support from all parts of the community. We are up against well-funded public bodies and a multinational company who already employ legal advisors and have the resources to bring in specialist expertise to support them in any future legal actions. We estimate that a future legal bill challenging the planning decision may run to tens of thousands of Euros.

We have already been bowled over by the generosity of members of the community who wish to help, but now have to move to a new phase which encourages lots of different fundraising activities. We have learned from other successful community based campaigns that having multiple channels for fundraising, involving lots of different local groups, businesses and individuals really helps not only to raise much needed cash but also to spread our message and raise awareness of the campaign.

How to Begin Fundraising

You may be a seasoned fundraiser and have organised events before for your favourite charity, school, sports club or community – which is great because you will already know what is involved. But don’t worry if you have never done this before, we have lots of ideas and advice to help you make your event a success.

Fundraising can involve large events which take a lot of planning and organisation or can be as simple as doing a regular collection. Think about the time that you can realistically commit. All donations small or large will be very important for SOS Skibbereen.

Turn your ideas into clever fundraising

Have a think about how much money you would like to raise for Save Our Skibbereen. Then take a look at your list of ideas and think about which ones could help you reach that target.

Which would be easy to organise, but would bring in the money?
Which ones do you think will appeal most to your friends, family or colleagues?
Which could you turn into a sponsored event or challenge?
Perhaps people could join in with some ideas, and you could raise money as a group?

If you’re in need of a bit of extra inspiration, take a look at some of our ideas outlined in this pack.

Spaces, places and times

Think about where the best place would be for your fundraising. Maybe you already know a suitable venue, such as your office or school? Or maybe you could ask use a local park community hall. Or maybe you could ask to use a local park or sports ground.

Think about when you would do it. Maybe it would be better to raise money on a weekend, so that more people can get involved? Whatever you decide, it’s a good idea to check that other events aren’t happening at the same time before you set the date. It is a good idea to check that other events aren’t happening at the same time and to give plenty of notice to maximise attendance.

Get others involved

Ask if your friends and family would like to help. Make a list of things that they could join in with, to help you make your fundraising as successful as possible. They could help with transport, for example, with marketing or with setting up a venue. Approach local businesses who might be able to provide you with sponsorship or even raffle prizes. Invite a local celebrity of sportsperson who may be willing to help raise more interest by officially opening or supporting your event.

Tell us what you are doing

Make sure that you let the SOS campaign know about your event so we can help get the word via social media out and provide a speaker or some literature for you to hand out. We need the date, time, venue and a description of the event and any entry charges, rules etc.

Publicise your event

Use posters, leaflets, Facebook, Twitter and your own networks to publicise your events. Tell C103 and the Southern Star about your event, and ask them to give it a mention and to send a reporter or a photographer along. Make it clear that your event is raising funds for the Save Our Skibbereen campaign and use the logo on any publicity.

Have Fun!

Fundraising can be hard work but is also a lot of fun. It’s a great feeling to bring people together for a good cause and the emphasis should be on fun as well as the serious message about the campaign. People have lots of calls on their time and money so making your event sound interesting, different and enjoyable will really help.

Some Ideas for Fund Raising for Save Our Skibbereen

Pub or Table Quiz:

Make it as simple or as broad as you like. Add in more fun and enjoyable ways to present the quiz. Include song snippets, movie scenes, charades or vocal pitch matching to make the quiz more enjoyable. You can download loads of free quiz ideas and resources from the web.

See if the local might host a pub quiz. The winning team gets a round, and every team of 4 pays a charge per table. There could be bonus rounds at the end, where people give an extra donation to compete with the hope of getting a free drink.

If you are want to organise this around trivia about plastic compounding then take a look at our FAQ for inspiration.

The Annual Table Quiz in Ahakista hosted by local celebrity and broadcaster Graham Norton is hugely popular, so see if you can find a great quiz host.

Golf Day:

Golf days have amazing fundraising potential. Organise a golf day and invite people to come charging a fee to enter. Ask local businesses to provide a prize.

Tug-a-War:

Good for any ages and groups. Run a best out of three or a whole tournament. Charge a small entry fee and collect donations for Save Our Skibbereen in a bucket on the day. This fun and competitive game is great for any age. Get a rope. Make your centre point and test your strength.

Darts or Snooker Challenge:

Fancy challenging your friends to a friendly game of Darts? Make it more competitive by testing your skills with different darts games such as around the clock. Charge a small entry fee and collect donations for Save Our Skibbereen in a bucket on the day.

Bingo:

Love bingo? Then why not play a good old- fashioned round or 3 of bingo at your fundraising event? Ask family and friends or local shops to donate prizes for each line or full house.

Treasure Hunt:

Make it as big or as small as you want – around the neighbourhood, town or even county. Get your friend with the most local knowledge to write a treasure hunt that both adults and children can enjoy and ask for a donation for teams to enter. Finish at a local park or restaurant and the winner(s) take a proportion of the entry fees, or maybe a local product everyone loves.

Get Together:

If you would like a member of Save Our Skibbereen to come and do a short talk or answer questions about the proposed polymer compounding facility at your get together please get in touch with info@saveourskibbereen.ie

Coffee Morning:

Have a coffee morning in your community centre. Make a few big urns of coffee and tea and get a selection of biscuits. People can make contributions for what they have.

Afternoon Tea:

Hosting an afternoon tea with cake and scones is always a great way to get everyone together and raise a little bit of money.

The Great Skibbereen Bake off!

Have a baking competition, with categories for brown bread, cakes, scones and bracks. Charge an entry fee and sell off the cakes at the end to raise a little more.

Open Mic Nights or Talent Shows:

Hosting an open mic or talent show and charging for entries or taking donations

Plant Growing Competition:

Whether it’s sunflowers, chilli plants or tomatoes, pick your plant. See who can grow the most impressive greenery in a set time and get everyone to make a donation to take part. Something everyone can get involved with – watch the plants (and the competition) grow!

Plant Sale:

We all have extra seedlings in our poly tunnels and greenhouses, so organise a plant sale in your garden or at the market.

Beautiful You:

Get pampered. Invite a beautician and a masseuse to come to your venue. Ask them to donate their time or a percentage of their earnings and charge for having a massage or nails painted.

Fund Raising Couture:

Have a fashion show. Everyone participating could either wear their favourite outfit, see what interesting garments they can find in the house, or ask a local boutique to donate some supplies.

Skills Auction:

The chances are you work with a talented bunch of people. Convince them to give up a bit of time for free. From guitar lessons to handmade knits, from fancy food to make up tips. Auction everything off.

Car Boot Sale or Clothes Recycling Sale:

Donate the profits from a recycling sale or car boot or garage sale

Cake Sales:

Ask a group of friends to donate cakes or bread and organise a cake and bread sale the profits from a car boot or garage sale

Open Gardens:

Holding an open garden to invite people in to view your garden and charging a small entry fee. You may also make some money from donations, or teas and coffees.

Advertising your Fundraising Event

Please let us know when your event is and what it is and we will advertise it on Facebook Pages and on Twitter. To let us know go https://www.saveourskibbereen.ie and enter your event in the diary. This will notify us so that we can help advertise it.

Please also advertise it yourself on the Facebook Group ‘No Plastic Nurdles Factory in Skibbereen’:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NoPlasticNurdlesFactoryInSkibbereen/

Make sure you use a description of your event, the time and date and the venue.

You can find templates for Posters or Letters that you can use to let people know about the event at the end of this pack. Just print out the letter or poster and write your event details into it.

Sending in your Fundraising Donation

Please pay the donation from your fund raining event to:

Account Name:

Save Our Skibbereen

Account Number :

15220009

Sort Code :

93-63-75

IBAN : IE95AIBK93637515220009

If you have any more questions, get in touch with us on : info@saveourskibbereen.ie

Download this guide and sample posters here :

SOS Fundraising Guide

SOS Fundraising Poster 001

SOS Fundraising Poster 002

SOS Fundraising Poster 003

SOS Fundraising Poster 004

SOS Fundraising Poster 005

SOS Fundraising Poster 006

Or get in touch if you need any further promotional material. We can help with that.

Best of luck everyone and thank you for helping.

24 Dec 2018

Southern Star : Plastics factory set to be a local elections issue

by admin | posted in: Press | 0

THE proposed plastics factory for Skibbereen looks set to be an election issue in the area in next year’s local elections.

And a local TD has called on the factory’s owners to hold a public meeting in a bid to quell local fears.

At a meeting hosted by SOS (Save Our Skibbereen) in a packed West Cork Hotel ballroom, supporters of the campaign to oppose the factory were asked to help raise an initial €15,000 for a legal challenge. Within just five days, over €12,400 had been collected.

West Cork Public Representatives – Statements to SOS

by admin | posted in: Skibbereen | 0

The following are statements or otherwise, in December 2018, from all West Cork elected representatives regarding our campaign and the proposed RTP Company Plastic Factory at Poundlick, Baltimore Road, Skibbereen, Co. Cork. Requests for statements and/or invitations to our Public Meeting were sent to all representatives in early December 2018.

Michael Collins TD
michael.collins@oireachtas.ie

“I attended all meetings that I was invited to so I could establish for myself if there was a danger to the Skibbereen public with this planned Thermoplastic factory, I am in no doubt after listening to the many presentations made at these meetings that there could be a danger to public Health.
I have also called on the Company in question RTP who have been in West Cork well before concerns were raised and whom I have never met to come to West Cork and relay any fears the people of Skibbereen have but to date they have not come here which leaves me in the position of supporting the Save our Skibbereen campaign for the long-term safety of those who live or like myself have a business in Skibbereen.
Skibbereen is a town which has developed in a positive way over that past number of years and we need to all unite to make sure this recovery continues.”

Jim Daly TD – Minister for Mental Health and Older People
jim.daly@oir.ie

“To whom it concerns
I wish to confirm from the outset that the promoters of this project who share a surname and have Drinagh connections have never approached me for advice, support or assistance of any form or had any communication with me re this development.
I note the decision of An Bord Pleanala, and as a citizen of the state, accept the rule and law that applies to planning in this country. As a public representative, I have no role or function in deciding who should, or should not, be granted planning permission.
Public Representatives would be rightly lambasted if politicians decided who gets permission to build what and where. While I can make representations on any application for myself or on behalf of the public, or indeed, as can any member of the public themselves, I have not made representations for or against this development. It should be noted that I have received contact from many individuals both against and in favour of the development, and have advised both sides that the matter will be adjudicated upon by an independent board. I, as one citizen of West Cork who could possibly hold one view, should not have the power to decide on the fate of this, or any other development.
There is much divided opinion on this issue in Skibbereen. As a public representative it is impossible for me to represent the views of both sides in this debate.
I have queried with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) if they have concerns regarding this proposed development, as I understand it is environmental concerns that are most feared by the general public. They have advised me that they have no such reservations from an environmental impact point of view, and that any discharge from the proposed plant, either by air or other medium, is below the level that requires environmental monitoring (copy of letter available on request).
I have never objected to any planning application in West Cork in my 15 years as a public representative for the area. I have worked night and day to promote development and opportunity, job creation and tourism in to the region. I accept people have valid fears, however, people recognise that this country is extremely bureaucratic and top-heavy when it comes to regulation and environmental protection measures. A development that would injure the environment and amenity of West Cork would not be authorised to proceed by the EPA. I trust the judgement of the EPA who have considered this application.
I live in Clonakilty, home to a plastic factory, and in my 15 years as an elected representative I have never received a complaint regarding this facility.
An Bord Pleanala is an independent planning body operating at arm’s length from the Government. The general Public should either accept this premise or not, but unfortunately cannot have it each way. Government Ministers and TDs should never decide who can, or cannot build new developments. If we accept the bona fides of an independent planning authority such as an Bord Pleanala, then we have to accept their decisions also.
There is, of course, the option of a judicial review available to those who do not wish to see this development progress. Again, the judicial process is rightly independent of politics and politicians. As I have no role or function in either the decisions made by An Bord Pleanala or the Courts, this is not a matter that I will be making any further public comment on.”

Margaret Murphy O’Mahony TD
margaret.murphyomahony@oireachtas.ie

Margaret Murphy O’Mahony has never attended any of our public meetings but has issued the following statement and has been in touch directly with the campaign recently. This is statement is taken from https://www.fiannafail.ie/skibbereen-plastics-factory-is-a-threat-to-tourism-and-aquaculture-industries-murphy-omahony/

“As a local public representative, I have, in the past, called for new jobs, new businesses and new investment in West Cork. However, this support doesn’t come with a blank cheque. With investment, comes a responsibility to ensure that nothing is done to harm the environment and other industries.
West Cork is heavily dependent on both the tourism trade and on fishing. This factory, to my mind, poses an unacceptable risk to both, and must be opposed. RTP / Daly Products must understand that while we want jobs in the community, they cannot come at any price.
I am very concerned about potential run-offs from the factory seeping into the local ground water supply, thereby risking both inland and sea-fishing.
In addition to their commercial importance, our rivers and ocean are a major pull factor for tourists visiting Skibbereen and the wider West Cork region.
RTP must properly engage with the local community, who are now up in arms about this project, and hold a number of public meetings to address their concerns on this matter.
I know that local groups are now actively seeking a judicial review of the Cork County Council and An Bord Pleanála decisions to grant planning permission. This will be a tall undertaking, but in the meantime, RTP must start to engage better locally.”

Councillor Danny Collins
bostondanny1975@gmail.com

Danny Collins has attended many of our meetings and has been supportive of the campaign to date.

Councillor Paul Hayes
paul.hayes@sinnfein.ie

“As you know, I’ve attended the previous public meetings and intend to do so again this evening. I fully support the effort to seek a judicial review.”

Councillor Mary Hegarty
mhegcas@eircom.net

Councillor Hegarty has never attended any of our meetings and has issued no statement.

Councillor Joe Carroll
carrolljoe@hotmail.com

Councillor Carroll has never attended any of our meetings but issued the following statement.

“Thank you for your email and thank you for kindly giving me an opportunity to make a statement in relation to the decision by An Bord Pleanala last week.
From the outset, when a factory was first proposed for Skibbereen on that particular site ( an IDA site since 1974 ), it was widely known that I, as a public representative, believed this would be a welcome development for the area and hopefully bring jobs to our town. May I point out this was also the belief of all other local representatives in our area at that time.
But I also made it very clear then, and every time I have been questioned since, that I would not welcome any industry that would negatively impact on people’s lives in this area. With that in mind, as I am not qualified to assert whether or not the factory would be suitable for the area, I was happy to leave the decision to the planners – who we, as councillors, put our trust in. It is very important to note that councillors have no say in planning matters or decisions.
It is also important to note that our planning system provides another higher level of judgement which is available to any person or body that is not happy with the decision made by planners – that, of course, is An Bord Pleanala.
They have been known in recent years to be very strict and prohibitive with regards any decision that may be seen to adversely affect the environment in any way. And I made it very clear that I would accept any decision made by An Bord Pleanala in this regard.
I now note that you and your committee are progressing your objections further by seeking a judicial review. I want to wish you and the committee the very best with your campaign, and I very much hope that a positive outcome will be achieved for our area very soon.
Again thank you for inviting me to make a statement. With regret I will not be able to attend the meeting tonight.”

Councillor Declan Hurley
declanj@eircom.net

Councillor Hurley has never attended any of our public meetings.

“Unfortunately, I have to send my apologies as I am unable to attend the meeting tonight due to another work commitment.”

Councillor Christopher O’Sullivan
cllrchristopherosullivan@gmail.com

Councillor O’Sullivan attended the public meeting on December 13th and spoke at length. He also issued the following statement.

“I also wish to put it on record that I do support the committee’s aim to seek a judicial review.”

Councillor Patrick Murphy
patmurph@eircom.net

Councillor Murphy has never attended any of our meetings and has issued no statement.

Councillor John O’Sullivan
jpgosullivan@gmail.com

Councillor O’Sullivan has never attended any of our meetings and has issued no statement.

Senator Tim Lombard

tim.lombard@oireachtas.ie

Senator Lombard has raised the issue of the factory in the Seanad and questioned An Bord Pleanála’s decision as reported in link below. He has also been in touch directly with the campaign and we hope to be meeting with him in person in the New Year.

https://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/12/20/4166656-lombard-queries-boards-ruling-on-plastics-factory/

Please make your opinions regarding the factory and our campaign known to your public representatives by email, letter, phone calls or conversations in person.

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