News from down the country

national | environment | news report Sunday March 08, 2009 17:40 by Contaminated Crow

A composting plant, a wind farm, water extraction, a landfill, electricity interconnectors and coal prospecting

Nick Nicholson, PRO of the Stackallen Boyne Action Group which had campaigned against the proposed Royal Mushrooms composting plant at Causetown, Stackallen, Co. Meath, said there was a ‘huge sense of relief’ locally at the An Bord Pleanala decision to refuse planning permission, saying the proposal had led to ‘an extraordinary coming together of the local community’ in opposition to the composting plant. (Meath Chronicle 7/3/09, pp. 1.6).

An Bord Pleanala has overturned planning permission granted by Mayo County Council for a 12-turbine wind farm at Chaffhill, Bunnyconnellan East, Drumsheen, Ballina, Co. Mayo, following appeals, one of which was signed by 74 local residents. (Connaught Telegraph 2/3/09 p.10b).

Opposition to proposals to extract water from Lough Derg for Dublin continues to grow prior to a meeting called for Wednesday 4th March by the Lough Derg Anglers’ Association, with local councillors from Labour and Sinn Fein in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, adding their voices to the local chorus of opposition. (Nenagh Guardian 7/3/09, pp.1,7).

Local residents told a An Bord Pleanala oral hearing into a proposal by Greenstar to increase from 132,000 to 400,000 tonnes the amount of waste it will accept each year at its landfill in Knockharley, Co. Meath, that the landfill is having a ‘dreadful’ effect on their lives. The proposal is being opposed by the Knockharley and District Residents’ Association. (Meath Chronicle 7/3/09, p.4).

North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) said it had raised 1.2 million Euro over the past 14 months for its campaign against the proposed EirGrid electricity interconnector through voluntary contributors, including the sale of 7000 tickets at 100 Euro each for its prize draw, the winner of which took a prize of 250,000 Euro last Friday at a draw in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath. (Anglo-Celt 5/3/09, p.7).

An Bord Pleanala’s oral hearing into the proposed electricity interconnector between Wales and Ireland will begin next Tuesday 10th March in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. The Interconnector’s underground cables will come ashore at Rush North Beach, Co. Dublin and proceed to Woodland, Batterstown, Co. Meath underground, mainly along public roads while avoiding urban areas as much as possible. (Meath Chronicle 7/3/09, p.13).

EirGrid has issued High Court proceedings seeking judicial review of a recent decision by Monaghan County Council to vary the County Development Plan to prevent the erection of powerlines exceeding 220kV within 100 metres of any house, school, sports field, playground or workplace. (Anglo-Celt 5/3/09, p.2)
Terra Energy Ltd. of 18 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2, has applied to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for licences to prospect for coal in several townlands in Ireland, including the Slieveardagh region in Co. Tipperary. (Tipperary Star 7/3/09, p.11.1).