News from down the country

national | environment | news report Monday November 30, 2009 17:05 by Contaminated Crow

Three masts, two windfarms, two quarries, an electricity sub-station and an animal rights protest

The Eagle Hill Mast Committee has decided to appeal to An Bord Pleanala against Waterford County Council’s decision to grant permission to H3G to erect a 10-metre mast at Eagle Hill. In their press release the Committee note 'As we have seen elsewhere, once the masts go up, they invariably grow, and before long something much larger than proposed is in place. Despite the conditions laid out by Waterford County Council in regard to this development, we have no confidence whatever in them being adhered to.' (Dungarvan Leader 27/11/09, p. 8).

Residents of Ballyduff Upper, Co. Waterford, came together at a proposed H3G mast site at Knockanana last Sunday in protest at the proposal. A public meeting is being held at St. Michael’s Hall on November 27th. (Dungarvan Leader 27/11/09, p. 46)

Residents of KIlcummin, Co. Kerry, are objecting to an application by H3G for a mobile broadband mast at Buddaghans bog, where they say there are already two masts within two square kilometres of the proposed site. (Kerry’s Eye 26/11/09, p. 4).

An Bord Pleanala has turned down an application by Flemingstown Wind Development Group for an 18-turbine windfarm near Annascaul, Co. Kerry. (Kerryman (sic) 25/11/09, p. 24).

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council has appealed to An Bord Pleanala against permission granted to SWS Energy Ltd. for a wind farm at Loughaun North, Tulla, Co. Clare, due to its effects on the adjacent Glendree Bog Special Area of Conservation, warning of a possible bog-burst. (Clare Champion 27/11/09, p. 10; Clare People 24/11/09, p.31).

Clare County Council has discovered that a number of ‘phantom people’ are backing a proposed Lagan Bitumen Ltd. quarry at Ruan, Co. Clare, after correspondence to 5 people who had written to the council in support of the quarry was returned as ‘not known at this address’. (Clare People 24/11/09, p.18).

Residents in Annagh, Lisnagry, Co. Limerick, are concerned at the reopening under a 1978 planning permission by Moroney Quarries Ltd. of a stone quarry that has been closed since 1992. Concerns relate to blasting, road suitability and two peregrine falcons who have been nesting in the quarry for 17 years. (Limerick Leader 25/11/09, p. 9).

Over 60 people gathered at Ratheniska GAA Club in Co. Laois last Friday to discuss opposition to a proposal by EirGrid to locate a 400/110 hv electricity substation in the area. Over 220 people have already signed a petition in opposition to the proposal and a local opposition committee has been formed. (Laois Nationalist 27/11/09, p. 1; Leinster Express 25/11/09, p. 3).

The National Animal Rights Association is to protest on Tuesday November 24th at the premises of Charles River Laboratories in Ballina and Glenamoy, Co. Mayo, in their second protest at the company’s involvement in animal testing. (Western People 24/11/09, p. 26).