News from down the country

national | environment | news report Saturday August 15, 2009 15:11 by Contaminated Crow

Ex-workers to protest at Corrib, four masts, two quarries, an incinerator, a power station, an ESB sub-station, powerlines and a pulp mill

Local residents who say they were promised work on the Shell Corrib terminal and who have not been rehired are planning to protest at Bellanaboy next Monday. One worker recently let go said the majority of the workers now on the site are from outside the Kilcommon area. (Western People 11/8/09, p. 2)

John Keoghan, spokesperson for North East Against Incineration, says that College Proteins, which is planning an incinerator at its premises in Nobber, Co. Meath, is refusing the groups access to the planned site, access which it had promised to facilitate. (Meath Chronicle 15/8/09, p. 3).

Over 70 people attended a meeting in Monivea, Co. Galway, due to concerns over excavation work recently begun on a site, part of which was formerly a quarry. After the meeting the Health and Safety Authority was contacted and asked to inspect the site. (Connacht Tribune 14/8/09, p. 8).

An Bord Pleanala has granted Casey Fuels Ltd. Permission to retain a pulp mill and store at Carhoonahone, Beaufort, Co. Kerry, to which local residents had objected. (The Kerryman (sic) 12/8/09, p. 4).

Clare County Council has refused planning permission for a 120 foot high mast near Cratloe, Co. Clare to Hutchinson 3G (H3G) as the structure might interfere with a nearby radar installation. (Clare People 11/8/09, p. 14; Limerick Leader 15/8/09, p. 15). Cavan County Council has also refused H3G permission for a mast at Coillte, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan. (Anglo-Celt 13/8/09, p. 7).

Up to 50 local residents protesting against the granting of planning permission to Terra Ireland for a 19 foot mast in Annascaul, Co. Kerry, protested at the site last Wednesday. The previous night persons unknown had filled the mast’s foundations with rocks, stones and mud thus delaying development. (Kerry’s Eye 13/8/09, p. 2)

The anti-mast group Glenbeigh Residents Against Health Hazards (GRAHH) met last Thursday with officials of 3Ireland, which is applying for permission for two masts in the area. GRAHH has called for the company to withdraw the applications after which it will enter into negotiations with the company. (The Kingdom 11/8/09, p. 6).

System Support Energy Ltd., which intends to submit an application for planning permission for a gas-fired power station near Naas, Co. Kildare next month, held an information meeting last Thursday in response to local opposition to the project. (Leinster Leader 13/8/09, p. 5).

An Bord Pleanala has refused permission for an ESB sub-station at Bridge Street, Athenry, Co. Galway, after vehement opposition from local residents. (Connacht Tribune 14/8/09, p. 6).

North-East Pylon Pressure is launching the next phase of its campaign against EirGrid’s proposed electricity interconnector at a meeting at the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan next Monday August 17th at 8.30 PM. (Meath Chronicle 15/8/09, p. 15). In the meantime EirGrid has ruled out the possibility of running the powerlines underground along disused railway lines. (Anglo-Celt 13/8/09, p. 3).

Two orders, one from the Minister for the Marine and another from An Bord Pleanala, refusing permission to Island More Sand & Gravel Company to extract gravel from the river Foyle near Lifford Bridge, Co. Donegal, have never been implemented and the company is continuing to excavate the river, according to local residents. (Donegal News 14/8/09, p. 30).