News from down the country

national | environment | news report Monday December 21, 2009 16:59 by Contaminated Crow

Pylons, two wind projects, an LNG pipeline, two masts, a landfill and a golf village

EirGrid has announced that it will be submittung a planning application for the North-South Interconnector directly to An Bord Pleanala in the near future, while An Bord Pleanala has agreed to an EirGrid request to extend the copmment period to ten weeks. North East Pylon Pressure, formed in October 2007 to oppose the InterConnector, has called on Cavan, Meath and Monaghan county councils to make submissions to An Bord Pleanala against the InterConnector and called on other affected groups and individuals to do the same. (Meath Chronicle 19/12/09, p. 1; Anglo-Celt 17/12/09).

An Bord Pleanala has turned down an application for a 64 metre wind turbine at Kilglass, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, which had faced 59 objections when it was lodged with Sligo County Council in April. (Sligo Weekender 15/12/09, p. 20).

Local residents have called on Kerry County Council to impose limits on the number of windfarms it approves in the Stack Mountains after an announcement by Golden Vale Co-Op Mart of its intention to build a 17-turbine windfarm in Lyreacrompane, particularly as they are still waiting for answers as to what was the cause of a massive August 2008 bogslide, which they fear may have been related to works begun two weeks before the bogslide on a windfarm. (Kerryman (sic) 16/12/09, p. 4).

The Commission for Energy Regulation last week approved shannon LNG's planned pipeline from Tarbert to Foynes, Co. Limerick, leaving the acquisition of foreshore licences as the only remaining requirement before building can start. (Kerryman (sic) 16/12/09, p. 3; Limerick Leader 19/12/09, p. 25).

Local residents have obtained over 40 signatures for a petition in opposition to plans by H3G to replace a 18 metre mast on top of the garda station in Kildysart, Co. Clare with a 30 metre mast. (Clare People 15/12/09, p. 3).

Residents of Cootehill, Co Cavan, living adjacent to the garda station, are having to install filters to enable them to receive terrestrial TV after a Tetra mast was installed on the garda station. Installation costs an average of 80 Euro and residents complain that they should not have to pay to rectify a problem for which they are not responsible. (Anglo-Celt 17/12/09).

South Tipperary County Council is continuing with its attempt to develop a landfill at Hardbog, Grangemockler, which has taken the council 12 years so far. A council official told a recent meeting 'We have done everything we can over the last twelve years to briong this badly needed landfill on board but unfortunately we have been thwarted at every turn.' The council currently fear an appeal to the Supreme Court. (Clonmel Nationalist 17/12/09, p. 1)

Local residents who have been campaigning against plans by Islandkeane Developments Ltd. for a 150 million Euro golf village at Garrarus, outside Tramore, Co. Waterford, claimed a victory last week when An Bord Pleanala overturned permission for the development. (Waterford News and Star 15/12/09, p. 13).