MORE THAN 400 submissions on an €80 million wind farm proposed for south Roscommon have been received by Roscommon County Council.
Green energy company Galetech has applied for planning permission to build an electricity generating wind farm, Seven Hills, close to Dysart, in the townlands of Turrock, Cronin, Mullaghhardagh, Gortaphuill, Tullyneeny and Glenrevagh. Galetech already has interests in wind farms in Cavan and Monaghan and is based in Cootehill, Co Cavan.
However, the Wind Turbine Action Group, South Roscommon, has vowed to oppose the application at council and An Bord Pleanála level, “and beyond if necessary”.
They claim 72 per cent of the 408 submissions to the council on the planning application are opposed to the wind farm, with 28 per cent in favour.
Spokesman for the group, Albert van Beek, said the high level of opposition did not mean all opponents were opposed to wind energy, but “the fact that so many people are against this wind farm is a sign that cannot be ignored”.
According to an analysis of the submissions by the group, 77 per cent of objections related to potential damage to the landscape; 9 per cent said the development would negatively influence the tourism industry in the area; 53 per cent were concerned about noise and 42 per cent about health issues.
The future value of property was a concern for 39 per cent.
Mr van Beek said Dysart was not mentioned in the county development plan as suitable for a wind farm.
He said a council draft wind energy strategy identified the area as suitable for wind farms. However, he said the designation of land value in the area as “moderate” in that strategy “is another way of saying this landscape is of lowest value”.
Opponents have cited an Irish Academy of Engineers report, Energy Policy and Economic Recovery, 2010-2015, which they say argues against investment in new wind farms.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label roscommon county council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roscommon county council. Show all posts
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Tiernan refutes An Taisce claims on Doon project
Claims by An Taisce that Roscommon County Council neglected its responsibilities for the protection of the environment in relation to a hotel project for the Doon area of Boyle were rejected this week by the County Manager.
Mr John Tiernan told the Roscommon Herald that he stood over his decision to disagree with a recommendation from his own planning department that the hotel plans be refused planning permission.
With controversy still ranging in Boyle over the decision of An Bord Pleanala to reject the project, and emotions in the town running high, Mr Tiernan stressed that on inspecting the site for the proposed hotel development near Lough Key, he felt that the hotel plans as put forward were “very appropriate”. He explained that he gave the go ahead for the development, despite concerns over visual impact and the potential impact to the ecology of the area.
“I stand over my decision. An Bord Pleanala made a different decision. To say that I would have favoured the views of the developers blindly and that I would override the views of others is wrong,” Mr Tiernan stressed.
“My decision is recorded on file and the reasons behind it are recorded on file and are freely available for inspection by the public. I do my job in an open and public manner,” he remarked.
Mr Tiernan said that by law he had the responsibility to make planning decisions and that by overruling a planning recommendation he was exercising his function as manager to do so.
“That is part of the legislation that the manager decides. It is something that I do everyday and in other areas as well, whether it is road works, water or planning. In order for me to do my job right, I accept a lot of recommendations but I weigh them up, and I decide, and therefore I also reject a number of decisions,” Mr Tiernan explained.
“When I make my decision, if it is different to the final recommendation that has come to me from the technical planners I must put my reasons down on record for that, that is something that is not required of An Bord Pleanala but is something that I do willingly, as I stand over all of the decisions that I make,” he stressed.
Maresa Fagan
© Rosocmmon Herald
Mr John Tiernan told the Roscommon Herald that he stood over his decision to disagree with a recommendation from his own planning department that the hotel plans be refused planning permission.
With controversy still ranging in Boyle over the decision of An Bord Pleanala to reject the project, and emotions in the town running high, Mr Tiernan stressed that on inspecting the site for the proposed hotel development near Lough Key, he felt that the hotel plans as put forward were “very appropriate”. He explained that he gave the go ahead for the development, despite concerns over visual impact and the potential impact to the ecology of the area.
“I stand over my decision. An Bord Pleanala made a different decision. To say that I would have favoured the views of the developers blindly and that I would override the views of others is wrong,” Mr Tiernan stressed.
“My decision is recorded on file and the reasons behind it are recorded on file and are freely available for inspection by the public. I do my job in an open and public manner,” he remarked.
Mr Tiernan said that by law he had the responsibility to make planning decisions and that by overruling a planning recommendation he was exercising his function as manager to do so.
“That is part of the legislation that the manager decides. It is something that I do everyday and in other areas as well, whether it is road works, water or planning. In order for me to do my job right, I accept a lot of recommendations but I weigh them up, and I decide, and therefore I also reject a number of decisions,” Mr Tiernan explained.
“When I make my decision, if it is different to the final recommendation that has come to me from the technical planners I must put my reasons down on record for that, that is something that is not required of An Bord Pleanala but is something that I do willingly, as I stand over all of the decisions that I make,” he stressed.
Maresa Fagan
© Rosocmmon Herald
Sunday, 6 May 2007
Green light for Carrick commercial project
A MAJOR commercial development planned for near Carrick-on-Shannon has been given the go ahead by Roscommon County Council.
The mixed-use scheme which will include retail units, a restaurant and a creche is set on a 3.34 hectare site at Cortober, adjacent to an area already identified as the location for a proposed business campus.
Dublin-based Palladio Properties was granted permission to build the integrated commercial/retail development subject to 27 conditions.
The complex will include a main anchor retail unit incorporating food and drapery space with a gross floor area totalling 4,656sq m along with a secondary retail unit and a restaurant measuring 165sq m.
A medical centre with a floor area of 257sq m and a creche measuring 212sq m will also form part of the scheme.
The development will have a maximum height of 10.8m above ground level and 512 car-parking spaces will be provided at ground, first-floor and roof level.
A plaza and a children's play area will complete the scheme.
The council directed that three additional retail units proposed by the developers be omitted from the scheme "in the interests of retaining the economic viability of the local town centre of Carrick-on-Shannon".
The site, at Drishogue, Cortober, is bounded by the railway line to the south, Midwestern livestock buildings to the west and lands associated with the proposed business campus to the north.
Sunday Tribune
The mixed-use scheme which will include retail units, a restaurant and a creche is set on a 3.34 hectare site at Cortober, adjacent to an area already identified as the location for a proposed business campus.
Dublin-based Palladio Properties was granted permission to build the integrated commercial/retail development subject to 27 conditions.
The complex will include a main anchor retail unit incorporating food and drapery space with a gross floor area totalling 4,656sq m along with a secondary retail unit and a restaurant measuring 165sq m.
A medical centre with a floor area of 257sq m and a creche measuring 212sq m will also form part of the scheme.
The development will have a maximum height of 10.8m above ground level and 512 car-parking spaces will be provided at ground, first-floor and roof level.
A plaza and a children's play area will complete the scheme.
The council directed that three additional retail units proposed by the developers be omitted from the scheme "in the interests of retaining the economic viability of the local town centre of Carrick-on-Shannon".
The site, at Drishogue, Cortober, is bounded by the railway line to the south, Midwestern livestock buildings to the west and lands associated with the proposed business campus to the north.
Sunday Tribune
Thursday, 19 April 2007
New group to assess health impact of pylons
Residents in the Boyle and Croghan areas concerned over the possible health implications associated with overhead power lines and pylons are expected to mount a campaign of opposition to the erection of pylons in the north Roscommon area in the coming weeks.
Concerned residents in Boyle and Croghan have been invited to attend a meeting this week to set up a new group to oppose plans to erect overhead power lines in the area, as part of the new ESB power line from Flagford, County Roscommon to Srananagh, County Sligo.
The group is being set up in support of a number of concerned landowners in the Boyle area, who have vigorously resisted the ESB plans for the last seven years and who will not permit pylons to be erected on their land.
Pylons range in height from 78-177 feet and a total of 46 tower bases are proposed along the Croghan to Boyle part of the power line.
“We hope to form a committee to pull together other concerned residents in the Boyle, Croghan and Ballymote areas and it is being set up in support of the landowners who are directly affected, and who are opposed, to the power line,” Mary Horan of Coach Road, Lisserdrea, Boyle explained.
“This new group hopes to highlight the health implications of living close to power lines and pylons and we intend to carry out a survey to find out how many people along this power line will be affected. In particular, we are concerned over the links between power lines and the incidence of Leukaemia and we would hope to do a headcount of all of the children under the age of 10 living along the line, in order to establish the level of risk to children,” Mary added.
Mary explained that health was among the primary concerns of those living in close proximity to the planned power line but that the potential devaluation of property was also very much a live issue.
“A lot of people are getting concerned now that they see the pylons that have been erected in the past six months in areas such as Croghan and Ballinultha. It is only now since these pylons have been erected that people have begun to question the possible impacts on health and on the environment. Health would be our primary concern but there are also issues relating to the potential devaluation of property,” Mary said.
A mother of three, Mary harbours concerns over the possible impact on the health of her children given that some research has shown a strong link between pylons and power lines and the incidence of Leukaemia.
She said that the meeting this week would hope to garner the support of other concerned residents in the area with a view to launching a petition against the power line plans.
Meanwhile in recent weeks, the ESB confirmed to the Roscommon Herald that a “fair amount of progress” had been made on the completion of the power line, which it stated was “vital for the economic development of the region”.
A spokesperson confirmed that over 120 of the 220 Kv tower bases were already erected with 50 remaining to be completed this year.
Another 70 tower bases for the 110 Kv network have been erected with 170 remaining to be complete this year. The transformer station at Srananagh in Sligo has been completed.
“We have made a fair amount of progress on this project and expect to complete it this year and have it in service providing the consequent benefits to domestic, industrial/commercial and agricultural customers,” a spokesperson for ESB said.
The ESB previously dismissed any concerns over the possible impacts on the health of those living in close proximity to power lines.
Maresa Fagan
© Roscommon Herald
Concerned residents in Boyle and Croghan have been invited to attend a meeting this week to set up a new group to oppose plans to erect overhead power lines in the area, as part of the new ESB power line from Flagford, County Roscommon to Srananagh, County Sligo.
The group is being set up in support of a number of concerned landowners in the Boyle area, who have vigorously resisted the ESB plans for the last seven years and who will not permit pylons to be erected on their land.
Pylons range in height from 78-177 feet and a total of 46 tower bases are proposed along the Croghan to Boyle part of the power line.
“We hope to form a committee to pull together other concerned residents in the Boyle, Croghan and Ballymote areas and it is being set up in support of the landowners who are directly affected, and who are opposed, to the power line,” Mary Horan of Coach Road, Lisserdrea, Boyle explained.
“This new group hopes to highlight the health implications of living close to power lines and pylons and we intend to carry out a survey to find out how many people along this power line will be affected. In particular, we are concerned over the links between power lines and the incidence of Leukaemia and we would hope to do a headcount of all of the children under the age of 10 living along the line, in order to establish the level of risk to children,” Mary added.
Mary explained that health was among the primary concerns of those living in close proximity to the planned power line but that the potential devaluation of property was also very much a live issue.
“A lot of people are getting concerned now that they see the pylons that have been erected in the past six months in areas such as Croghan and Ballinultha. It is only now since these pylons have been erected that people have begun to question the possible impacts on health and on the environment. Health would be our primary concern but there are also issues relating to the potential devaluation of property,” Mary said.
A mother of three, Mary harbours concerns over the possible impact on the health of her children given that some research has shown a strong link between pylons and power lines and the incidence of Leukaemia.
She said that the meeting this week would hope to garner the support of other concerned residents in the area with a view to launching a petition against the power line plans.
Meanwhile in recent weeks, the ESB confirmed to the Roscommon Herald that a “fair amount of progress” had been made on the completion of the power line, which it stated was “vital for the economic development of the region”.
A spokesperson confirmed that over 120 of the 220 Kv tower bases were already erected with 50 remaining to be completed this year.
Another 70 tower bases for the 110 Kv network have been erected with 170 remaining to be complete this year. The transformer station at Srananagh in Sligo has been completed.
“We have made a fair amount of progress on this project and expect to complete it this year and have it in service providing the consequent benefits to domestic, industrial/commercial and agricultural customers,” a spokesperson for ESB said.
The ESB previously dismissed any concerns over the possible impacts on the health of those living in close proximity to power lines.
Maresa Fagan
© Roscommon Herald
Thursday, 29 March 2007
Roscommon councillors launch attack on An Taisce
An Taisce’s ‘unhealthy interest’ in planning issues in North Roscommon and Boyle has been roundly condemned by members of Roscommon County.
The criticisms were levied at An Taisce during a debate on a material contravention of the Boyle Development Plan, which came before members of Roscommon County Council at their March meeting on Monday.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the contravention to the Boyle town plan to allow a warehouse development go ahead in the Warren, Drum area. The proposed warehouse will measure some 442 square feet.
The County Manager, Mr John Tiernan, explained that the land in question was immediately adjacent to land which was zoned industrial but this particular piece of land was zoned for housing.
“Having looked at the application and considered the proper planning and development of the area and the employment situation in Boyle I feel it’s appropriate to recommend this to members,” said Mr Tiernan.
Cllr John Cummins said that the development would facilitate a self-employed businessman with extra capacity and storage. He was highly critical of the fact that An Taisce had made a comment in relation to the proposed development.
“Why is An Taisce so interested in everything in Boyle. Every single application for the north of the county seems to attract the interest of An Taisce. If the members of it were to come to Boyle and see how close this is to the two other warehouses there would see for themselves. They seem to want to deter people in North Roscommon from doing anything,” claimed Cllr Cummins.
Mayor, Cllr Charlie Hopkins said that An Taisce seemed to have “an unhealthy interest in North Roscommon”. Cllr Ernie Keenan commended the businessman in question for having the initiative and effort to “put something into Boyle”.
Cllr Sean Beirne said that the Boyle Development Plan must have been wrong in the first place if so many material contraventions had to be made to it.
The County Manager said that he would defy any councillor or group of councillors to provide a plan, which could stay together for six years. Mr Tiernan said that in the interests of development it would not be possible to have a rigid plan in place.
“It can’t and would not be wise to lock things up so rigidly in a way which would prevent things like this going ahead,” said Mr Tiernan. The County Manager pointed out that the area in question was on the fringes of an area already zoned for industrial use. Cllr Sean Beirne said that material contraventions were a regular feature.
The County Manager agreed saying: “Yes, they are going ahead all over the county and I’m delighted to see development going ahead.”
Mairead O’Shea
© Western People
The criticisms were levied at An Taisce during a debate on a material contravention of the Boyle Development Plan, which came before members of Roscommon County Council at their March meeting on Monday.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the contravention to the Boyle town plan to allow a warehouse development go ahead in the Warren, Drum area. The proposed warehouse will measure some 442 square feet.
The County Manager, Mr John Tiernan, explained that the land in question was immediately adjacent to land which was zoned industrial but this particular piece of land was zoned for housing.
“Having looked at the application and considered the proper planning and development of the area and the employment situation in Boyle I feel it’s appropriate to recommend this to members,” said Mr Tiernan.
Cllr John Cummins said that the development would facilitate a self-employed businessman with extra capacity and storage. He was highly critical of the fact that An Taisce had made a comment in relation to the proposed development.
“Why is An Taisce so interested in everything in Boyle. Every single application for the north of the county seems to attract the interest of An Taisce. If the members of it were to come to Boyle and see how close this is to the two other warehouses there would see for themselves. They seem to want to deter people in North Roscommon from doing anything,” claimed Cllr Cummins.
Mayor, Cllr Charlie Hopkins said that An Taisce seemed to have “an unhealthy interest in North Roscommon”. Cllr Ernie Keenan commended the businessman in question for having the initiative and effort to “put something into Boyle”.
Cllr Sean Beirne said that the Boyle Development Plan must have been wrong in the first place if so many material contraventions had to be made to it.
The County Manager said that he would defy any councillor or group of councillors to provide a plan, which could stay together for six years. Mr Tiernan said that in the interests of development it would not be possible to have a rigid plan in place.
“It can’t and would not be wise to lock things up so rigidly in a way which would prevent things like this going ahead,” said Mr Tiernan. The County Manager pointed out that the area in question was on the fringes of an area already zoned for industrial use. Cllr Sean Beirne said that material contraventions were a regular feature.
The County Manager agreed saying: “Yes, they are going ahead all over the county and I’m delighted to see development going ahead.”
Mairead O’Shea
© Western People
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Legal battles in Boyle
WHAT IS it with quarries and the courts? Gerry McManus, owner of Boyle Quarries Ltd (BQ), is taking Roscommon County Council to the High Court in a bid to get planning permission for his quarry, while a recent legal action against the company for noise pollution has threatened to shut his operation down. McManus applied for planning permission to continue operating his controversial quarry in Letfordspark, Boyle, in January 2006, as new planning laws for quarries required. According to the Council, McManus was unsuccessful but the Fermanagh-based quarryman disputes this and says that the Council didn’t come back with an answer within the established timeframe. McManus has now gone to the High Court seeking a judicial review that he hopes will lead to his company getting planning permission by default.
It isn’t the first headache McManus has caused planning officials, who served an enforcement notice on BQ in July 2005 for unauthorised development on the Letsfordpark site, including illegal quarrying, structures and machinery. McManus is also dealing with an action taken under the Environmental Pollution Act against BQ by local couple Edward and Teresa Quinn, for excessive noise. Circuit Court judge Miriam Reynolds sided with the Quinns and has ordered all noise from the quarry to cease, effectively closing the quarry. McManus didn’t return Goldhawk’s calls and his solicitor – Michael J Ryan – had no comment on the possibility of an appeal.
On top of all this, McManus is awaiting a ruling from the High Court in relation to another action – this time by local Tom Callan – relating to allegedly illegal intensification of quarrying. It might be a good time for Gerry to head back across the border.
© The Phoenix
It isn’t the first headache McManus has caused planning officials, who served an enforcement notice on BQ in July 2005 for unauthorised development on the Letsfordpark site, including illegal quarrying, structures and machinery. McManus is also dealing with an action taken under the Environmental Pollution Act against BQ by local couple Edward and Teresa Quinn, for excessive noise. Circuit Court judge Miriam Reynolds sided with the Quinns and has ordered all noise from the quarry to cease, effectively closing the quarry. McManus didn’t return Goldhawk’s calls and his solicitor – Michael J Ryan – had no comment on the possibility of an appeal.
On top of all this, McManus is awaiting a ruling from the High Court in relation to another action – this time by local Tom Callan – relating to allegedly illegal intensification of quarrying. It might be a good time for Gerry to head back across the border.
© The Phoenix
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