Asphalt, waste, turbines and Miners Group contacts: new from down the country

national | environment | news report Friday September 05, 2008 21:02 by Contaminated Crow

Victory in Mayo, defeats in Tipperary and conflicts in Offaly and Roscommon

The Mayo Environmental Group celebrated victory this week when the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources declined to issue prospecting licenses for gold to Mayo’s Gold following a concerted campaign of opposition. (Source: Mayo News 2/9/08, p.1,2.)

An Bord Pleanala has upheld North Tipperary County Council’s decision to grant an air pollution licence for an asphalt plant at Ballycahill, Nenagh to RAC Eire Partnership Ltd. despite appeals from six local residents who were concerned over environmental impacts of the plant. Several objectors said no proper study was undertaken of the level of emissions from the plant, while objector Rory Chadwick said the area was already affected by dust blows from the Silvermines area, with cadmium, arsenic, lead, zinc and iron in that dust and additional emissions would increase local health risks. (Source: Nenagh Guardian 6/9/09, p.5)

31 objections have been lodged with Roscommon County Council against a proposed quarry in Lisnagirra, Athleague, after a large group of people attended a recent meeting called by concerned residents. The groups said if the Council grants permission, it will appeal to An Bord Pleanala. (Source: Roscommon Champion 2/9/08, p.4)

Over 60 local residents attended a meeting in Edenderry, Co Offaly, last week to express concern over an application by MB Solar Ltd. to erect two wind turbines at the north end of Francis Street in the town. Residents object to the erection of wind turbines in a residential area as well as having concerns over noise, safety and property values. (Source: Offaly Express 3/9/08, p.3)

An Bord Pleanala has granted permission to Bothar Hibernian to operate a bitumen, macadam and asphalt plant at Rossacreena, Annahalty, Co. Tipperary despite strong opposition from the Touknockane Residents’ Association and an objection from Birdhill National School Board of Management, as the school is close to the proposed location. Residents’ concerns related to the proposed location, potential dust pollution and previous experience with the company’s quarry operation. (Source: Nenagh Guardian 6/9/08, p.13)

A crowd of over 60 people attended last week’s public meeting called by the Ballaghadareen Environmental Action Group (BEAG) in opposition to Barna Waste’s proposed waste transfer station. BEAG’s chairperson Lorraine Carroll told the meeting ‘We don’t want Ballaghadareen to become the waste capital of the west’. (Source: Roscommon Champion 2/9/08, p.11)

Project proposers ran into stick receptions at a number of local authority meetings this week. Eirgrid officials, briefing Cavan County Council on the proposed high voltage transmission system for the area, were told to abandon the proposed pylons and instead lay the line underground. (Source: The Anglo-Celt 4/9/08, p.1) Meanwhile private company RPS, operating on behalf of Dublin City Council, got an angry response from Westmeath County Council when they detailed plans to extract water for Dublin from Lough Ree. The proposers said water taken would amount to 20% of the average river flow of the Shannon, while the final application to an Bord Pleanala would not take place until 2010. (Source: Westmeath Examiner 6/9/08, p.5)

Details for Irish Miners’ Group contacts
The National Miners’ Association is calling on all ex-miners and dependants to get in touch with the group. Contact details are Arigna: Charlie Hopkins 071-9646044/087-1252955; Ballyfarnon: Michael Lenehan 071-9647386; Drumshambo: Maurice Cullen 087-2660911; Drumkeerin: Jimmy McNama 087-9615321; Packie McPartland 087-6305906 and Geevagh: Peter Kerins 087-2973199.

Next meeting: 20th September, Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise. (Source: Leitrim Observer 5/9/08, p7A)