Ballyshannon objections show very personal concerns
The original 'due date' for a decision on the application is tomorrow, Wednesday 27 November. But this is unlikely to happen, not least because of the volume of correspondence generated.
A perusal of the submissions shows a wide range of objectors to the proposal, from individuals, families, and the agriculture-related activities in the area. Among them also are submissions from councillors and TDs, and organisations including Kilcullen Community Action and the Old Kilcullen Area Community Association.
Objections are, as expected, mainly around dust, noise, human and animal health issues, and road safety. Many include considered technical reasons, including argued deficiencies in the application and related environmental documents. They all represent considerable material for digestion by the planners in Kildare County Council. The Diary has taken a random selection and the quotes below give a more personal flavour of the depth of feeling on the matter.
In an email to supporters, the Ballyshannon Action Group has expressed its thanks to all who have made submissions on behalf of the residents of the area. The group also notes the coincidental programme to be broadcast tomorrow night on RTE 1 about quarries, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, in which one so far unnamed County Kildare quarry is expected to feature. The programme airs at 9.35pm.
Extracted from the 227 submissions:
"We strongly object to the quarry as it will certainly cause road safety issues ... will severely impact our family and will cause unsafe roads, air and noise pollution, property devaluation, and most of all the rural quality of life we have envisaged for our [family] growing up in Martinstown."
"As a newly married couple, myself and my wife ... have always expected to live in this quiet rural area where I have lived all my life. This has now been seriously compromised by the proposed quarry development."
"On review of the EIS submitted with the application, it is abundantly clear that it falls short of any reasonable assessment of the proposed development ... this road [L8007] cannot accommodate vehicles of the type and size typically used for gravel and sand transportation, alongside other traffic from the existing adjoining uses of residential, agriculture and equine. There will also be a significant danger to pedestrians and cyclists ..."
"Currently with wintering the roads are deteriorating naturally ... the addition of 60 trucks a day will certainly not aid in road conditions ... we live in an ideal setting where there is little or no noise ... noise six days a week is completely unacceptable."
"I am worried about the dust being a health risk to my pedigree beef cattle ... [the development] will ruin the local landscape and possibly damage the water table."
"We believe this application will have a devastating effect on the children and parents of Ballyshannon National School ... it will have a negative effect on our local roads, our school children's safety, air quality, and general quality of life for all of us who live in Ballyshannon."
"We have lived in Ballyshannon since 2002 and have enjoyed living in and being an engaged part of this rural, close knit and proud community ... the scale of this significant proposal would fundamentally change the quality and pace of life in our community in an extremely negative manner."
"I walk along these roads on a daily basis but I would be unable to do so if planning is granted, because I would be too afraid ... dust, noise and visual pollution ... would have an adverse effect on our mare and her produce."
"This is an agricultural area and the effects on animal health could be serious. I also fear for the loss of habitat for wild animals ... this is a quiet rural area and should remain so. The effect on house prices in the area is already being felt. This is grossly unfair to people who have worked all their lives to own their own property."
"There is a significant risk of pollution to the water table with the potential to affect human and animal water quality in the area. Our business involves the production of top quality racehorses, and a vital part of that production depends on clear, unpolluted water ... certainly for our business, [adverse effects] could result in a relocation of stock to France, with the inevitable result of job losses."
"This will bring added pollution and carbon emissions to our area, which would result in not only a health risk but [is] in opposition to our government and council's commitments to reduce these emissions."
"Every pit or quarry will degrade the natural environment. Beyond the physical changes to the landscape, the daily barrage of noise, dust and exhaust produced by up to 80 heavy goods vehicles hauling aggregate can have serious effects on the health of people living nearby."
"At present, people can enjoy walking and exercising their dogs along the road L4307. The passage of up to 72 lorries a day would substantially detract from the peacefulness currently experienced by residents ... like many of my neighbours, I have a well on my property which serves to water the animals ... the proposed works will adversely impact the welfare of the animals, as the water is at a very low level."
"There is a particularly dangerous bend where the road will only allow one car to pass, and if you were to meet a lorry here it is practically a death trap. As well as being driven on these roads, every morning I have to walk these roads to the school bus and these lorries could be quite dangerous. I also cycle along these roads to get to the shops and meet with my friends, as they are my only means of transport out of my estate."
"By adding a minimum of 72 truck movements per day ... the balance of probability for a terrible accident to occur would be increased significantly ... this development will affect real people, real lives and real families."
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