Residents fear Kerry LNG gas terminal will threaten their homes

Up to 50 people living directly adjacent to the landbank between Tarbert and Ballylongford came together at a public meeting in Tarbert on Thursday night, where they presented their issues to two representatives of the Shannon LNG company, which is behind the proposed gas terminal.

It is expected that a residents group in Tarbert, Count Kerry, will lodge a detailed objection to An Bord Pleanála outlining their fears over the proposed LNG terminal. If their objections are upheld and plannning permisison is refused, it could sound the death knell for the multi-million euro project that is expected to create 650 jobs during construction and 50 jobs when the plant is up and running

At a public meeting in Tarbert on Thursday, members of the Kilcolgan Residents Association comprised of people living directly on the landbank said they are worried their homes would be within the immediate fall-out zone in the event of an accident. We have very legitimate concerns over the gas terminal, not least the threat it would pose to our homes, group member Adam Kearney, told The Kerryman. Weve done a lot of research and can see the many dangers worldwide associated with plants of this nature.

While Shannon LNG insist that the terminal would be extremely safe with gas being piped in at low pressure, residents on the landbank are not placated.It seems that an exclusion zone of at least 2kms should be placed on it but where are the plans for this. Within 2 kms of the site there are upwards of 30 homes, Mr Kearney said. The tanks will also be a huge presence on the landscape and were not happy with how the company are proposing to heat their plant because of the environmental effect it would have.

Plans are currently before An Bord Pleanála and the group have up until November 16 to make a submission.

Kerryman

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