News from down the country

national | environment | news report Tuesday June 30, 2009 20:36 by Contaminated Crow

A waste plant, a wind farm, waste privatisation, a quarry, pylons, turg cutting, an incinerator, a sports facility and policing costs

An Bord Pleanala has refused Clare Waste and Recycling Ltd. permission to relocate and extend an existing waste recycling facility at Ballymalone, Tuamgraney, Co. Clare, after planning permission granted by Clare County Council was appealed by local residents. (Clare Champion 26/6/09, p. 6).

Planning permission for an eight-turbine wind farm at Lettercraffroe, Oughterard, Co. Galway was refused by An Bord Pleanala after planning permission granted by Galway County Council last September was appealed by An Taisce and the Department of the Environment. (Connacht Tribune 26/6/09, p. 24).

Two Mayo and one Galway waste companies went on trial last week before the Central Criminal Court sitting in Galway accused of breaches of competition law in an attempt to control the privatization of waste disposal services in Co. Mayo in 2005. (Connacht Tribune 26/6/09. p. 10).

An Bord Pleanala granted permission to Glenstone Quarries (a division of Roadstone Provinces Ltd.) for the continued operation of a quarry at Ballybeg, Buttevant, Co. Cork last week despite an appeal by An Taisce, the core of which was that the quarry had been operating for at least 61 years without a single grant of planning permission. (Corkman (sic) 26/6/09, p. 9).

Minister for the Environment John Gormley was denounced as a hypocrite by North-East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) when he presented a green flag to Robinstown National School in Co. Meath last week, noting ‘As part of its proposed North-South electricity projects, EirGrid wants to build giant pylons and overhead high voltage lines about 100 metres from the school… Parents, pupils and teachers have expressed concern about the dangers…’ (Meath Chronicle 27/6/09, p. 9).

A public meeting has been called for the Crowe’s Nest in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan at 9PM on Thursday July 2nd to form an active committee in relation to Slieve Rushen bog, where a turf-cutting machine was impounded on June 10th. Local resident Tom McManus, for whom the machine was being used, said ‘we use only five acres out of thousands and thousands of acres and that is only a small patch on this mountain’. There are issues relating to grazing rights, telephone masts and alternative energy projects on the mountain that will also be discussed. (Anglo-Celt 25/6/09, p. 1).

A very large crowd attended a meeting last Thursday in Nobber, Co. Meath called by North East Against Incineration to encourage opposition to the incinerator proposed by College Proteins in the town. (Meath Weekender 27/6/09, p. 12; Meath Chronicle 27/6/09, p. 12).

The Wicklow Head Preservation Group has expressed opposition to plans by Wicklow town council to site a sports facility at Bride’s Head, which they feel will endanger the rich bio-diversity of the area, while more suitable locations are available. (Wicklow People 24/6/09, p. 5).

Figures for policing protests at shannon, Co. Clare and Glengad, Co. Mayo were released by the Department of Justice last week. Policing protests at shannon for the last three years cost 8.68 million Euros, of which 2.76 million Euros was overtime. For Glengad the overtime bill stands at 12 million Euros. (Limerick Leader 27/6/09, p. 27; Western People 23/6/09, p. 5).