THE approach of the Kilkenny Block Company, Troyswood, Kilkenny towards local people in its attempt to start a huge quarry operation at Clashacrow, Freshford was described by one local resident as being one of selective exclusion.
Mild mannered Richard Gordon did not mince his words at the Bord Pleanala hearing into the proposed quarry on Thursday afternoon. Held over two days at Hotel Kilkenny it attracted a large number of people including Green Party Tls Mary White who supported local opposition to the plan.
He claimed that neither he or his neighbours had been contacted by the block company or any of its advisors at any stage of the planning process to date.
"The EIS report submitted by the block company to the County Council included a map which excluded many of the homes belonging to local residents. The EIS report excluded any impacts of the applicants stated intention to subsequently locate the concrete and block manufacturing operations to the proposed quarry site," he said.
He also maintained the report excluded a significant listed buildings from its Heritage assessment - Wellbrook House and also excluded the significant impact the proposed development would have on local equine businesses.
"The applicant has excluded nearly all impact of the proposed development on everybody who lives outside 300 or 350 metres of the site: Dust pollution/noise pollution/water pollution/light pollution/ground vibration/Increased Traffic - no impacts on local residents according to the Applicant's experts.
"It is clear from submissions to the planning authority and evidence at the oral hearing that there are a number of vulnerable people in the local community on the basis of age or serious medical conditions, but again the block company has chosen to apply its "selective exclusion policy" and failed to consult or adequately respond to their concerns and worries on the impacts of the proposed development on their health and welfare," he stated.
He claimed that the boundary map, submitted by the company on which the County Council based their original decision to grant permission was inaccurate. "Land, owned by John Keoghan was included by the Applicant without his permission and without any preconsultation. The correction of this map and the re-submission of it to the County Council has, in my opinion clearly been delayed by the applicant until he was forced to do so at this oral hearing," he said. ;
"With regard to the applicants numerous expert reports and submissions I find it difficult to understand how some of the professional reports clearly lacked a balance in their assessment of the positive and negative impacts of the proposed development, while others /had some serious omissions of relevant facts.
"An EIS means a statement of the effects, which the proposed development, if carried out, would have on the environment. The onus to ensure all impacts on the environment are correctly and fairly presented in an EIS report should rest with the Applicant and not be dependent upon on the extensive work of a local community group like 'Keep Clashacrow/Carrigeen Beautiful Group.
Mary White
Green Party T,D. for Carlow/Kilkenny, Mary White said she went into politics »in 1999 because of a proposed) open cast mining on Mount Leinstpr.
"I am now delighted,/ to support and represent this small close-knit community in County Kilkenny. I support proper planning and sustainable development and while I understand that everything which isn't grown is either mined or quarried I believe that it is the scope and scale of this quarrying development and its location which must be taken into account at the planning stage."
"I want to congratulate the local community on the strength and professionalism of their input at the oral hearing. Their regard for the local area, their homes and their farms was openly demonstrated and shows the depth of local feeling on this issue," she said.
Brenda Cooper
The main objector to the quarry is The Keep Clashacrow/Carrigeen Beautiful Group (KCCBG) which represents 124 people.Many of these people live within a three mile radius of the proposed site.
Brenda Cooper; speaking on behalf of the KCCBG said the site identified for the quarry is in an area of High Amenity (as identified in the Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2002). This didn't happen by chance, one only has to look around at the beautiful picturesque landscape to realise that this is a very special place. There are green fields everywhere, with cows grazing, and a wonderful array of wildlife that live and thrive in the natural native woodland. The area is serviced with a church and public house and has main road access.
"There are so many reasons; a huge increase in truck traffic, unbearable noise, blasting and excessive dust, peoples wells will be interfered with, there will be more flooding, because even the ordinary person knows that the small river Arigny couldn't possibly cope with the run-off from the quarry. Because it is an Area of High Amenity, that itself contrasts completely with the proposed quarry.
"There is a Mass Rock on the site in question where locals have gone to hear Mass for hundreds of years and this tradition has carried on even into the 21st century. It is referred to in Canon Ca rrigan's History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory. It is also referred to here in the book Threecastles. The previous Bishop, Bishop Laurence Forristal, expressed his concerns very strongly when he wrote to us about this in December 2006.
"Many of the locals speak of the folklore which has been passed down from generation to generation. One such piece refers to the Rath or Raheen in Carrigeen. It is said- that if "you cut a bush in a Raheen the fairies will haunt you". Another piece of folklore refers to the big rocks in Carrigeen called the Jackdaw Rocks. It is said that fairies are supposed to live in the Jackdaw Rocks. (Ref; Threecastles, Eleanor Cantwell). While these references may seem somewhat trivial when we are discussing such serious issues many of the locals, who are now in their senior years, are very concerned about what might happen if all of this is interfered with?
"A poem called Carraigeen, I came across depicts very appropriately, not only my sentiments about the area, but the sentiments of everyone I represent, who object to this proposed quarry.
See the gaily coloured foxglove growing by the hedge
And the faintly scented woodbine trailing o'er the edge
The ivy, yew and holly whose teaves are evergreen
All planted there by nature's hand in the fields of Carraigeen
The Mass Rock in the centre where the priests had oft said Mass
In the far off dismal Penal Days when the people were harassed.
The prayers of att the faithful had echoed o'er the scene
As they knelt upon the hallowed ground in the fields of Carraigeen
The cave beside the Mass Rock where the priest fled on the run
That later served as refuge for the widow and her son
Who were thrown out on the roadway by the landlord cruel and mean
When she couldn't pay the paltry rent in the fields of Carraigeen.
Thank God these days are over. We've peace and rest once more,
We pray for all the gallant men who drove tyranny from our shore.
If you want to know the history of the days that once had been
You need only take a stroll around the fields of Carraigeen.
Kilkenny People
www.buckplanning.ie
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