News from down the country

A windfarm, a quarry, a marina, a telemast, a concrete batching plant, pylons, a helipad and a landfill.

Local residents have this week launched a website as part of their campaign against a proposal by SWS Energy Ltd. of Cork to site a windfarm at Loughaun North, Tulla, Co. Clare. The website, at www.noeastclarewindfarm.net, provides criticisms of the proposal and encourages local residents to object. (Clare Champion 9/1/09, p.2.9)

An Bord Pleanala has rejected a local appeal against planning permission for extension of Tom Ward’s quarry at Kilglass, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. (Roscommon Herald 6/1/09, p.2).

North Tipperary County Council has delivered a serious setback to controversial plans by Eclipse Developments for a 60 million Euro marina development at Ballina, Co. Tipperary which faces strong opposition locally, by requesting the company to reduce both the scale and height of the proposed development. (Clare Champion 9/1/09, p.24)

Glenbeigh Residents Against Health Hazards held a public meeting last week attended by dozens of local residents to organise opposition to a proposal by Tetra Ireland Ltd. to erect a 10-metre telecommunications mast at Ballinakilla Lower, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry. (Kerryman (sic) 7/1/09, p.5,12).

Local developer Richard O’Connell has withdrawn an application to Clare County Council for retention of a dry concrete batching plant at the former Burlington factory in Gillogue, Clonlara, Co. Clare, after objections from the Gillogue Residents’ Association. (Clare Champion 9/1/09, p.6).

Monaghan County Council this week created a further planning difficulty for EirGrid’s proposed Interconnector by varying the County Development Plan by restricting pylons from being placed within 100 metres of any residence, school, sports field, playground or workplace. The variation was supported unanimously by members of the County Council acting against a formal recommendation by the County Manager. (Monaghan Post 8/1/09, p.7; Northern Standard 8/1/09, p.1,8).

Clare County Council has refused an application by businessman Peter Strich for a helipad at Bellisle Farm, Illaunregan, Clonlara, for the fourth time. Local residents Joe and Geraldine Quinlivan objected that the flying of helicopters over and around their house at all times of the day ‘made our lives and that of our family a living hell. Sometimes they had to circle our house to get ready to land. The noise was so bad that we could not hear each other speak’ while local doctor David Beckett noted ‘The application follows years of unauthorised helicopter activity by a number of different helicopters making multiple flights per day and all year round’ (Clare People 6/1/09, p.16; Clare Champion 9/1/09, p.6)

Greenstar Recycling Holdings Ltd. was found guilty at Loughrea court last week of breaching its waste management licence at its landfill at Kilconnell, Co. Galway, between August 9th and November 13th 2007 and was fined 3,500 Euro. Greenstar also face the prospect of paying substantial costs involved in the EPA prosecution. (Connacht Tribune 9/1/09, p.7)