Tractors against pylons and other news from down the country

national | environment | news report Tuesday August 12, 2008 14:45 by The Contaminated Crow - none

Short reports on five environmental controversies based on reports in the local papers.

Over 1200 tractors from Counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan took part in a demonstration organised by North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) on the 4th August, Bank Holiday Monday, to protest at the proposed erection of electricity pylons through the three counties by Eirgrid. Forming five convoys, the tractors converged on a farm in Kilmainhamwood, Co. Meath, where some 400 tractors spelled out the message 'No Pylons' in letters 100 feet high. (Source: Meath Chronicle 9/8/08, pages 1 and 6)

Local residents of Usk, near Kilcullen, Co Kildare, expressed outrage at the decision by An Bord Pleanala (ABP) published on Friday 1st August to give permission for a superdump in their community. The residents have opposed this landfill application by Greenstar Holdings Ltd. for the last eight years, including by taking ABP to the High Court which found irregularities in ABP's handling of the application, forcing the Bord to hold a second oral hearing. The residents' statement said 'The residents of Usk and surrounding areas in south Kildare, are extremely disappointed today to find that an Bord Pleanala has again chosen to ignore its own inspector, the guidelines of the national waste management plan, the wishes of the elected representatives of county Kildare and all the people of south Kildare, in facilitating Greenstar Holdings.' Residents pointed out that the dump is not to take any waste from Kildare and warned that the county is set to become the dumping ground of Ireland. (Source: Kildare Nationalist 10/8/08, pages 1 and 2)

Opponents of Dublin City Council's proposal to extract up to 300 million litres of water from Lough Ree have claimed the plan poses a threat to the future development and water supply to all towns, villages and cities which depend on the shannon for their water. The shannon Protection Alliance, formed 18 months ago to oppose the plan, attacked the total lack of public consultation on the plan and called on local authorities in the area to change their development plans to forbid any such water extraction. (Source: Roscommon Herald 5/8/08, page 1)

Local residents in Knockharley, Kentstown, Co. Meath have opposed plans by Greenstar Hoildings Ltd to increase its waste intake at the local landfill to 400,000 tonnes annually, three times the current permitted intake. The Knockharley and District Residents Association released a statement this week complaining the plan was 'totally contrary to all assurances and agreements reached following oral hearings and High Court action prior to the opening of this dump.' They also highlighted Greenstar's use of the Strategic Development legislation (used to fast-track certain developments) which they said provided no mechanism to submit or observe that the increase in dumping at Knockharley did not involve strategic infrastructural development. (Source: Meath Chronicle 9/8/08, page 4)

Roscommon County Council has refused planning permission for an abbatoir near Whitehall, Tarmonbarry, following local opposition centred on the slaughterhouse's planned location next to the local national school and playschool. (Source: Roscommon Herald 5/8/08, page 1)