Ballyshannon highlights biodiversity at risk from quarry plan

A wide range of animal and plant biodiversity is threatened by the planned imposition of a sand and gravel quarry at farmland in Ballyshannon, writes Brian Byrne.

The Ballyshannon Action Group is highlighting some of this during National Biodiversity Week. The issues were raised by the Inspector's Report in the Kilsaran appeal to An Bord Pleanala against Kildare County Council's refusal of planning permission for the development at Racefield farm.

The Bord ignored the Report, which advised the upholding of the KCC decision. Ballyshannon Action Group is awaiting a ruling on permission for a Judicial Review of the ABP decision.

The biodiversity at risk includes four different bat species with a high level of activity on the site, 11 potential badger setts with one active sett noted, foraging evidence, access runs, tracks, and prints, 35 bird species recorded with ten of them of ‘conservation concern, and eight on the red and amber listed species considered to be 'probable' or 'confirmed' breeders within the site, and almost 2km of native ancient hedgerows to be removed.

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