News from down the country

national | environment | news report Monday February 09, 2009 23:00 by Contaminated Crow

A metal recycling plant, a sewage treatment plant, two quarries, a landfill, electricity pylons and a telemast

A meeting was due to take place last Tuesday in response to an application to Laois County Council for planning permission for a massive recycling facility at the Derries, Ballybrittas, Co. Laois, by A1 Metal Recycling of Mountmellick, intended to handle 600,000 tonnes annually, some 50-60% of the country’s waste metal. Local resident John Crowley stressed the plant involves a danger of ground water contamination from a site that is a cut over bog on an acquifer. (Leinster Express 4/2/09, pp.1,4).

A rally has been called for Carraroe pier next Sunday at 2PM by Concerned Residents and the Pier Development Committee in protest at the proposed location of a sewage treatment plant near to the pier at An Sruthan. Galway County Council has postponed a decision on the plant until local residents meet with the Department of the Environment. (Connacht Tribune 6/2/09, p.6).

An Bord Pleanala has given permission for a building stone quarry to Joe Green in an area designated ‘especially high scenic amenity’ near Gweedore, Co. Donegal, despite its inspector in an appeal by a local resident recommending against granting permission. (Donegal Democrat 3/2/09, p.8).

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against planning permission for a quarry at Lisnagirra, Athleague, Co. Roscommon by the Lisnagirra/Liscoffey/Scrine Action Group. (Roscommon Champion 3/2/09, p.3).

While the EPA has noted a decrease in the number of odour complaints regarding the Corranure landfill in Cavan, down from 117 in December to 18 in January. It is still receiving complaints, with nine being noted between Sunday and Monday of this week. The EPA has issued a non-compliance notice to Cavan county Council, which is the licensee, though the landfill is operated by Oxigen Environmental Ltd. (Anglo-Celt 5/2/09, p.5).

North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) has cited a recent French court case in which a farmer was awarded 400,000 Euro in compensation for ‘direct, material and certain’ damage to his cattle and pigs from nearby electricity pylons as confirmation of the basis for NEPP’s campaign against EirGrid’s proposed electricity interconnector. Francis Lally, NEPP chairperson, said ‘This judgement confirms what we have been saying since we started our campaign. Despite all EirGrid’s protestations to the contrary, there is a clear link between increased disease in farm animals and proximity to electricity pylons. It is worth noting that the French farmer has to move his animals 1,000 metres away from the pylons, while EirGrid are proposing a distance of only 50 metres for farmers in the north-east’. (Meath Chronicle 7/2/09, p.6)

An Bord Pleanala has overturned planning permission granted by Meath County Council to Eircom to build a 15 metre telemast just 11 metres from the nearest house in Ballivor, Co. Meath after two local residents appealed the decision. (Meath Chronicle 7/2/09, p.8)