We want to hear directly from the people who live, work and care about our community.

The RAIN Campaign is launching a new community video series to give local people the opportunity to share their views and concerns about the proposed development.

We believe the people who know and care about this area best should have the opportunity to speak for themselves.

🎥 Have your say

We are inviting residents, local businesses, community members and anyone with a connection to the area who has concerns or questions to take part.

You don’t need to prepare a speech or know exactly what to say.

We simply want to hear your honest views.

You can talk about:

• What concerns you about the proposed development

• How you believe it could affect our community

• Questions you feel need answered

• Your concerns about the local environment

• What you want decision-makers to understand

• Why protecting the future of our community matters to you

📹 How can I take part?

There are two ways to get involved.

Come and speak to us in person and we can record your contribution for the video series.

Or, if you would prefer, contact us and arrange a convenient time for us to come and record you.

There is no requirement to be experienced on camera. We want this to be about real people and real perspectives.

📝 Interested in taking part?

If you would like to participate in the RAIN Campaign video series, please complete our contact form.

GET INVOLVED — CONTACT US⁠

Let us know that you’re interested in taking part and we’ll be in touch with the next steps.

Your voice matters

This campaign is about ensuring that the community has an opportunity to be heard.

Whether you’ve lived here all your life, run a local business, work in the area or simply care about what happens to our community, your perspective matters.

We want to build a collection of voices that reflects the people who will be affected and gives the wider public a better understanding of the concerns being raised.

No script. No pressure. Just your voice.

If you have something to say, we want to hear it.

Contact the RAIN Campaign →⁠

RAIN Campaign

Our community. Our voice. Our future.

Imagine being told that your community could become home to a major waste incineration facility — while elsewhere, governments are questioning whether building more incinerators is compatible with recycling, waste reduction and a circular economy.

That is the reality facing communities around Milltown Road, Benburb.

One of a kind — but not in the way we want

The proposed development at Milltown Road would bring a large-scale waste treatment facility into our local area.

And while we are told that this is about energy and waste management, residents are entitled to ask a much bigger question:

Why here?

Why should the Benburb Valley become the location for a facility that could have consequences for traffic, the environment, our countryside and the character of our communities?

Wales has already taken a different approach

In 2021, the Welsh Government introduced a moratorium on new Energy-from-Waste incinerators with a capacity of 10MW or more, as part of its approach to developing a circular economy and reducing reliance on incineration. UKWIN describes this as a move towards ensuring incineration capacity is aligned with future waste needs.

This doesn't mean that Wales has no incinerators — it does. Natural Resources Wales states that Wales has five waste incineration sites — but new large-scale capacity is subject to the Welsh moratorium.

So while other parts of the UK are asking whether we should be building more of these facilities, we are being asked to consider one here in our valley.

Is this the future we want?

Waste policy is changing.

Recycling, reuse, waste reduction and the circular economy are increasingly important parts of how communities should manage resources.

UKWIN has highlighted concerns about incineration overcapacity, arguing that England already has substantial existing and planned capacity and that further expansion could work against recycling and wider environmental ambitions.

So we have to ask:

Do we really want to lock our community into another generation of incineration?

This isn't just Benburb's issue

The proposed site may be on Milltown Road, but the conversation doesn't stop at the village boundary.

Residents across:

Milltown • Carrickaness • Tullysaran • Benburb • Armagh • Dungannon

and the surrounding countryside deserve to know what is being proposed and what it could mean for the future of the area.

This is our valley.

It is where people live, work, farm, raise families and build communities.

We don't want to be "one of a kind" for this

There are plenty of ways our area could be recognised.

For our community spirit.

For our countryside.

For our heritage.

For the people who live here.

We don't need an incinerator to put our valley on the map.

RAIN believes that our community deserves better.

We believe waste should be reduced, reused and recycled wherever possible — not simply burned.

And we believe residents deserve a meaningful say in decisions that could shape this area for decades to come.

Our campaign is simple.

We say NO to incineration.

Not because we are against progress.

Because we believe progress should mean building a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future for our communities.

This is our valley.
This is our future.
And our voice matters.

Stay informed. Get involved. Share the campaign.

Follow RAIN for the latest updates on the proposed Milltown Road development and information on how you can make your voice heard.

Understanding the proposal and why RAIN is concerned

Residents across Benburb and the surrounding communities have raised serious concerns about the proposed waste incineration facility at 113 Milltown Road, Tullymore Otra, Milltown, near Benburb.

The proposal is listed by the United Kingdom Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) as a potential incinerator development within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon planning area. UKWIN identifies AIC Group as the operator and lists the proposed capacity as 7,728.

What is being proposed?

According to information recorded by UKWIN, the proposal is for a Small Waste Incineration Plant (SWIP) designed to process a mixture of waste originating from across Northern Ireland.

Importantly, the information currently recorded indicates that the proposed waste stream could include approximately:

• 85–90% non-hazardous waste

• 10–15% hazardous waste

This is one of the reasons RAIN believes the proposal deserves careful scrutiny and meaningful public engagement.

The proposal is described as a Combined Heat & Power Thermal Treatment System, rather than simply a conventional waste facility.

A proposal for a rural location

The proposed site is located at 113 Milltown Road, in the rural area near Benburb.

For RAIN, the location is a central part of the concern.

The surrounding area includes homes, agricultural land, waterways, cycling routes, wildlife, heritage assets and communities that could potentially be affected by the development.

Any proposal of this nature must therefore be considered not only in terms of the facility itself, but also in terms of its relationship with the surrounding landscape and communities.

Community engagement

UKWIN records that a pre-application community engagement meeting took place in December 2025 in relation to the proposal.

It also records that a revised Pre-Application Notification was approved in March 2026 for a drop-in event scheduled for 1 May 2026, with a dedicated webpage intended to remain available for at least 28 days.

UKWIN states that, as of 30 June 2026, the PAN webpage was no longer online.

For RAIN, effective community engagement means ensuring that residents have access to clear, understandable and timely information about proposals that could have a long-term impact on their communities.

Why is RAIN concerned?

Our concerns extend beyond the proposed facility itself.

We are examining the potential implications for:

Public Health
The handling and thermal treatment of waste, including hazardous waste, raises questions that require careful assessment.

The Environment
The proposed location sits within a wider rural landscape connected to the Blackwater Valley and surrounding waterways and habitats.

Agriculture
The area contains productive agricultural land, with farming and agri-food activity forming an important part of the local economy.

Traffic & Road Safety
The introduction of additional waste transport and Heavy Goods Vehicle movements could place further pressure on the surrounding rural road network.

Heritage & Tourism
The wider area contains significant historical, cultural and environmental assets that contribute to its identity and tourism potential.

Quality of Life
Residents have concerns about the potential impacts of a facility operating around the clock, including noise, odour, vibration and other forms of nuisance.

These are matters that deserve proper consideration before any decision is made.

This is about more than one site

RAIN is a community campaign representing concerns from Benburb and surrounding areas.

We believe residents should have a meaningful opportunity to understand what is being proposed, access the relevant information and make their views known.

Our campaign is not simply about opposing one development. It is about ensuring that decisions affecting our communities are properly scrutinised and that the potential consequences for people, the environment, agriculture, heritage and the local economy are fully considered.

Stay Connected with RAIN

As the proposal progresses, we will continue to share important information, planning updates and campaign news.

Join our email list, follow RAIN on social media and help share the campaign with others across our communities.

Our campaign is simple:

Join Our Campaign. Protect Our Future.

The local community continues to unite in opposition to the proposed waste incinerator development planned for Milltown Road by AIC Group.

Following renewed efforts to progress the application, concerns among residents remain extremely high. Many people across Benburb and the surrounding areas are worried about the potential long-term impact the development could have on the environment, public health, local infrastructure, and the character of the community itself.

RAIN remains fully committed to challenging this proposal at every stage of the process. Over recent months, the level of support shown by local residents has been incredible, with more and more people stepping forward to make their voices heard.

As this now represents a new application, community action begins again.

To ensure residents have the opportunity to stay informed and involved, a new public community event will take place on:

Community Information Event

Thursday 14th May

7:30PM

Benburb Presbyterian Church Hall (Main Street)

The meeting will provide an opportunity for local people to:

• Receive updates on the latest developments

• Ask questions and raise concerns

• Learn how they can support ongoing opposition efforts

• Stand together as a united community

Community involvement is vital. Large attendance at these events sends a clear message that local voices matter and that residents care deeply about the future of the area.

Everyone is encouraged to attend and help spread the word to friends, neighbours, and family members.

Together, we can continue to protect our community.

At Rain Campaign, we are continually inspired by the strength, passion, and commitment of our community. The level of engagement we’ve seen makes one thing clear: there are many informed, skilled, and motivated individuals who want to make a difference.

Now, we’re inviting you to take that one step further.

Why Your Expertise Matters

The issues surrounding incineration and its potential impact are complex and far-reaching. They touch on everything from environmental sustainability to public health, from planning regulations to property values. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration, knowledge, and diverse perspectives.

That’s where you come in.

If you have expertise—or can connect us with specialists—in any of the following areas, we would love to hear from you:

• Air Quality

• Human Health

• Water Quality

• Ecology

• Noise

• Odour & Vermin

• Safety

• Property Valuation

• Planning Policy

Building a Stronger Case Together

We are particularly keen to connect with individuals and organisations linked to:

• Universities and academic research

• Professional and regulatory bodies

• Healthcare and environmental sectors

• Government departments and agencies

• NGOs and advocacy groups

Your insights, research, and professional experience can play a vital role in shaping a robust, evidence-based response to the concerns surrounding incineration.

Residents Against Incineration

Rain Campaign stands alongside residents who are raising legitimate concerns about the potential impacts of incineration in their communities. By pooling our knowledge and resources, we can ensure these voices are supported with credible, well-informed arguments.

Get Involved

Whether you’re an expert in your field, a concerned resident, or someone with valuable connections, your contribution matters. Together, we can strengthen our understanding, amplify our message, and work towards a safer, healthier environment for everyone.

📩 Get in touch today to express your interest and become part of a growing network committed to positive change.

Why Communities Across the UK Are Standing Against Incineration

Across the United Kingdom, more communities are raising serious concerns about the construction of waste incinerators. From a communications and public engagement perspective within the RAIN Campaign, it is clear that opposition is growing as residents, environmental groups, and health professionals question the long-term impact of these developments.

Recent coverage from BBC News shows that anti-incineration campaigns are not isolated incidents, but part of a wider national movement. Reports from different parts of England highlight the same themes — worries about pollution, public health, and the future of sustainable waste management.

Protecting local environments

BBC: Billy Bragg joins protest against Portland waste incinerator

BBC News reported on protests against a proposed incinerator near the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Campaigners argued that a facility capable of burning large amounts of waste each year could damage the surrounding landscape, affect tourism, and increase air pollution in an environmentally sensitive area.

Situations like this show how strongly local communities feel when developments are planned close to places of natural or cultural importance.

Public health remains a major concern

BBC: Incinerator proposal rejected by council after objections

In another case reported by BBC News, residents opposed plans for a waste incinerator that would burn large amounts of non-recyclable waste, warning that the development could increase pollution and harm nearby communities.

Many campaign groups believe more research is needed into the long-term health effects of emissions from incinerators. Even when projects meet legal limits, communities often feel those limits do not fully remove the risk.

Legal challenges and community action

BBC: Anti‑incinerator fundraiser reaches £10,000 for legal challenge

Another BBC report described campaigners raising money to challenge an incinerator decision through the courts. This reflects how determined local residents can be when they feel their concerns have not been properly considered during the planning process.

Public meetings, petitions, and legal appeals have become common features of anti-incineration campaigns across the UK.

Concerns about recycling and sustainability

Environmental groups, including the RAIN Campaign, also question whether incineration supports the UK’s long-term climate and recycling goals. Critics argue that burning waste may reduce the pressure to improve recycling systems and waste reduction policies.

Many campaigners believe the focus should be on reducing waste, increasing reuse, and improving recycling rather than building more incinerators.

A growing national debate

BBC: Campaigners fight on after court decision over Dorset incinerator

BBC reporting from several regions shows that opposition to incineration is increasing, with communities asking for greater transparency and stronger environmental protections.

From a Public Relations Officer’s perspective within the RAIN Campaign, the message from the public is consistent: people want waste solutions that protect health, respect local communities, and support a more sustainable future.

Responce to the Community’s Concerns

Residents in Benburb and surrounding areas have raised a number of environmental concerns regarding the proposed incinerator at 113 Miltown Road. Many people are worried about the potential impact such a development could have on air quality, local wildlife, and the wider environment.

Incinerators are known to produce emissions which contribute to air pollution, and communities across the UK have previously expressed concerns about the long-term effects these facilities can have on public health and the natural environment.

There are also concerns about increased traffic, noise, and the effect that industrial development could have on the rural character of the area.

Members of the campaign have been reviewing independent research and information provided by

United Kingdom Without Incineration Network,

which highlights a range of environmental issues linked to waste incineration and the importance of considering safer and more sustainable alternatives.

The RAIN campaign will continue to share information as it becomes available and encourages residents to stay informed about the potential environmental impact of the proposed development.