RESIDENTS of the Mill-town, Kilmeague and Allen areas have called on Roadstone to formulate a proper restoration plan for the Hill of Allen, given the impact of quarrying there over several decades. The demand came following a public meeting held in the Milltown Inn last week, which was attended by around 50 concerned residents from the area. Public representatives also turned out for the meeting, including deputies Sean O’Fearghail (FF) and Jack Wall (Labour), along with Fianna F•il councillors Pat Black and Fiona O’Loughlin. A petition concerning public access to the hill was launched at the same meeting.
“Essentially, we are calling on Roadstone to place a height restriction barrier at the entrance to the carpark beside the hill. At present, there are boulders there which are effectively hindering local people from using it as an amenity,” said local committee spokes-person Miriam Mulcahy.
At the meeting, Ms Mulcahy outlined the relevant planning issues to the attendance. Kildare County Council notified Roadstone in March 2006 that, due to the size of the quarry and given concerns about the environmental impact of the works, the company would have to submit a planning application and an environmental impact statement. Roadstone insists that its quarrying on the hill has had no significant effect in environmental terms and has sought a judicial review of the matter.
Anne Davidson addressed the Milltown meeting on the subject of the county development plan, focusing in particular on the regulations and guidelines related to ‘extractive industries’, while Conor Mahony spoke about the historic and cultural significance of the hill. Those in attendance viewed a slide show and were shown a series of large maps which, the organisers claimed, indicated the areas of extraction proposed in Roadstone’s future plans.
“There was a lot of shock when people actually saw exactly how much of the hill is about to be taken away,” said Miriam Mulcahy. The group wants to preserve the remainder of the hill and get Roadstone to commit itself to a public and detailed restoration plan. It also aims to keep local people informed, publicising all decisions made by Kildare CC in respect of the hill.
The committee, chaired by Brian O’Loughlin, has expressed dissatisfaction with Roadstone’s current approach to restoring those areas of the hill that have already been quarried. “It appears that at present it is just a matter of trucks tipping earth onto the face of the hill. What we are seeking is a proper, phased restoration plan,” Ms Mulcahy said.
In a statement issued last week, Roadstone said: “Roadstone Dublin Limited has operated a quarry at the Hill of Allen since the 1940s, providing essential raw materials to the local construction industry. Almost 70 people are directly and indirectly employed at the facility, which operates in compliance with all appropriate legislative, planning and environmental requirements. “On 26 April 2005, Roadstone Dublin Ltd registered its quarry with Kildare County Council as required under section 261 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. A judicial review is currently underway in relation to this matter and Roadstone Dublin is therefore precluded from commenting any further until that process has reached a conclusion.”
The local committee, meanwhile, is currently active in setting up a website on which people can access information about this issue and an e-mail campaign is already underway, with people asked to contribute their views to hillofallen@eircom.net.
Vicki Weller
© Kildare Nationalist
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