'Keep using our voice' - Ballyshannon Action
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| Ballyshannon residents at the AGM. |
Further movement on the application by Ballyshannon Action Group for a Judicial Review of planning permission granted for a local quarry could take up to another couple of years, writes Brian Byrne.
That's what the group's 2023 AGM heard last night from their chairman, Jim Burke. He was referencing the High Court last October deferring a decision on their application until the outcome of a non-connected case at the Court of Justice of the European Union. That case relates to a motion by an investment fund to overturn leave granted to the Dublin 8 Residents Association permitting it to bring its action against An Bord Pleanála.
"Our case is not dependent on that, but we have nothing further to do this year until we hear something about the outcome of it," Jim Burke noted. He said there was plenty of other work to be done in the meantime on other fronts — that followed a general discussion that brought up issues of speeding, absence of road markings, a new bus route coming through the area in September, and the possibility of having local thoroughfares designated as 'quiet roads' as has been done in parts of the UK.
"We are committed to protecting the community from unsustainable development, protecting biodiversity," the chairman said. "We have to fight the quarry, but there are other things we have to do too. They all keep the name of Ballyshannon out there. We have a voice and we have to keep using it." He concluded by urging everyone to 'keep up the good fight'. "This is a fantastic community ... keep fighting, we're going to win."
Earlier, the meeting heard details of the group's financial position, fundraising during the past year, community events, and the 'very positive' meeting last March where Ballyshannon Action had brought together representatives of other communities across Kildare affected by quarries and the extractive industry.
The AGM re-elected the outgoing Ballyshannon Action Group committee. Local resident Joan Dowling was also elected to the committee.
The group was founded in 2019 in response to a planning permission application by Kilsaran to create a quarry in the heart of their rural, residential area just outside Kilcullen.
Initial planning permission was denied for the development by Kildare County Council, but later successfully appealed by Kilsaran to An Bord Pleanala.
Ballyshannon Action Group are currently seeking Judicial Review of this ABP decision.
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