Marcia sent a message to Lakshmi Mittal – Chairman and CEO, ArcelorMittal – Email Address that said:
Dear Mr. Mittal,
I write on the tremendous off-chance that I hope you may read this and help with the most urgent of queries.
I and many of the residents of Cork Harbour (Ireland) are currently in the middle of a planning hearing. We are fighting against the building of an incinerator on a site in Ringaskiddy. This is the third time the incinerator company has applied for planning permission to build on this site and, for the third time, the community is putting every scarce resource into fighting the proposal. One of the main reasons I am involved is that we have a shared vision for this part of Cork Harbour which is finally beginning to blossom and the proposed massive incinerator building on this site would destroy this budding potential.
You ran Irish Ispat on Haulbowline Island from 1996 -2001. That is history. But a key part of that history is that the site the incinerator company wishes to build on was purchased from Ispat. The site in question is situated directly opposite the bridge leading to Haulbowline Island; a site on elevated ground right beside the water and surrounding the Hammond Lane metal company.
I know this site is in the wrong location for an incinerator but it appears the incinerator company is committed to it. That level of commitment just doesn't make sense to me. I believe if we could understand what is driving the commitment, it might help us to defeat the incinerator proposal. I am not against incineration, you understand, just the attempt to build on what is a critically important site at the centre of Cork Harbour.
I should just be so grateful if you could throw any light on the sale of this land from Irish Ispat to Indaver Ireland. Any light at all that you are comfortable to give.
I wish you well and if you can help at all, thank you so much.
With regards,
Marcia