BATS, snails, mussels, salmon and crayfish are hindering works planned for the Convent Bridge in Mountmellick.
Ciara Flynn, district consultant officer of the National Parks and Wildlife Services cautioned Mountmellick councillors to carry out an ecology study of the area before any work starts.
A committee in the town had drawn up plans to clean around the bridge and also intended to rock armour the base of the structure.
She said the River Owenass, which flows beneath the bridge, has an abundance of flora and fauna.
She mentioned such creatures as freshwater crayfish, salmon, lamprey, marsh snails, otters and pearl mussels living off the flora along the riverbank.
She also said Daubenton's bats, commonly known as water bats, have also been seen skimming the waters and may live in the crevices under the bridge.
She said the plans by the local group as they stand at present would not get approval to proceed.
Cllr Bobby Delaney was none to happy with the news. “There’s a lot of questions being asked why we can’t do the work. The way it is at the moment it’s just weeds, weeds, weeds. It looks appalling. We want to change the banks in that area. Ger Lynch (a member of the local committee) is our expert in the fishing area. We have plans drawn up. All we want to do is to clean up that area.”
Cathaoirleach of the council Cllr Marc Connolly said the bridge at Smithsfield had rock armour but Ms Flynn said that work was done without any consultation with her office. “The maintenance programme for the riverbank is not an issue. The issue is with rock armouring the banks,” she said.
Cllr Helen Hanson said the main concern of the committee was the appearance around the bridge. “Money is sitting there for the work and we’re anxious to carry out the improvement works. We’re only talking about a small section,” she said.
Ms Flynn asked: “Has the bridge ever been surveyed for bats?” Cllr Hanson said: “This thing is bigger than us.”
Cllr Delaney said: “People are coming to us asking us why can’t we do something about the bridge.” Ms Flynn said: “You could plant a few trees and carry out remedial work.”
Cllr Gormley said: “We never intended to meddle with the bridge. It’s very unsightly and embarrassing coming into town. I can’t see any problem lighting up the bridge.”
Ms Flynn said the lighting would need to be directed away from the bridge so as not to disturb the bats. She also cautioned: “If you don’t have vegetation on the river, bats wouldn’t get insects.”
Cllr Hanson proposed the committee should get together with Ms Flynn to discuss what can and can’t be done. “We haven’t moved one inch on this in two years. We should try to move this on.”
Joe Barrett
© Laois Nationalist
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Plan to protect Dublin's plants and animals
Developers in Dublin will be required to maintain the diversity of plant and animal life in the sites they build on, under a new biodiversity plan for the city.
The Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan also suggests incentives for developers who take steps to ensure that plant and animal life is maintained and enhanced when they construct new buildings.
The four-year plan, which aims to protect the city's natural heritage and minimise the loss of biodiversity, also calls on Dubliners to play their part in encouraging plant and animal life.
"Halting the loss of biodiversity is a significant challenge for all of us and requires urgent and informed action," says Dublin city manager John Tierney. Among the threats identified are the loss of habitats, their fragmentation and the arrival of invasive species that quickly take over spaces previously occupied by a native species.
About 25 per cent of Dublin's land area is in private gardens, a mapping project carried out for the plan has established. The plan says this is a considerable resource that can add to the city's natural heritage by providing cover, feeding and commuting routes for hedgehogs, badgers, breeding birds and other wildlife.
Gardeners can help by providing berry-bearing and flowering plants; for example, rowan and cherry trees and the humble dandelion can give food and/or shelter to a wide range of animals. Providing ponds is another way of boosting biodiversity for frogs, water beetles, pond snails and dragonflies, and neutering cats, and putting bells on their collars, helps urban birds.
Increased biodiversity can help Dublin cope with the effects of climate change, the plan suggests. Biodiversity can make the city more carbon neutral as vegetation absorbs CO2. To cope with extreme weather, soft landscaping and green roofs will reduce run-off and help avoid flooding. Green spaces and mature planting can help counteract the danger of overheating in areas with a high proportion of concrete.
The plan highlights the rich variety of animal life already in the city. Some 33 different species of wild bird live in Dublin Bay and there is an average of one fox family per square kilometre of the city. Foxes breed in Merrion Square and in gardens adjacent to St Stephen's Green.
Other species present in Dublin are seven types of bat, seals, otters, badgers, hares rabbits, dolphins and whales.
Areas listed for special conservation or protection include Dublin Bay, North Bull Island, the Glenasmole Valley, Sandymount Strand and the Tolka Estuary.
Aside from the 25 per cent in gardens, 20 per cent of the city's land is in other green space, such as grassland, woods and some remaining hedgerows.
Paul Cullen
© 2007 The Irish Times
The Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan also suggests incentives for developers who take steps to ensure that plant and animal life is maintained and enhanced when they construct new buildings.
The four-year plan, which aims to protect the city's natural heritage and minimise the loss of biodiversity, also calls on Dubliners to play their part in encouraging plant and animal life.
"Halting the loss of biodiversity is a significant challenge for all of us and requires urgent and informed action," says Dublin city manager John Tierney. Among the threats identified are the loss of habitats, their fragmentation and the arrival of invasive species that quickly take over spaces previously occupied by a native species.
About 25 per cent of Dublin's land area is in private gardens, a mapping project carried out for the plan has established. The plan says this is a considerable resource that can add to the city's natural heritage by providing cover, feeding and commuting routes for hedgehogs, badgers, breeding birds and other wildlife.
Gardeners can help by providing berry-bearing and flowering plants; for example, rowan and cherry trees and the humble dandelion can give food and/or shelter to a wide range of animals. Providing ponds is another way of boosting biodiversity for frogs, water beetles, pond snails and dragonflies, and neutering cats, and putting bells on their collars, helps urban birds.
Increased biodiversity can help Dublin cope with the effects of climate change, the plan suggests. Biodiversity can make the city more carbon neutral as vegetation absorbs CO2. To cope with extreme weather, soft landscaping and green roofs will reduce run-off and help avoid flooding. Green spaces and mature planting can help counteract the danger of overheating in areas with a high proportion of concrete.
The plan highlights the rich variety of animal life already in the city. Some 33 different species of wild bird live in Dublin Bay and there is an average of one fox family per square kilometre of the city. Foxes breed in Merrion Square and in gardens adjacent to St Stephen's Green.
Other species present in Dublin are seven types of bat, seals, otters, badgers, hares rabbits, dolphins and whales.
Areas listed for special conservation or protection include Dublin Bay, North Bull Island, the Glenasmole Valley, Sandymount Strand and the Tolka Estuary.
Aside from the 25 per cent in gardens, 20 per cent of the city's land is in other green space, such as grassland, woods and some remaining hedgerows.
Paul Cullen
© 2007 The Irish Times
Plan to restore earl's lake temple
A Co Monaghan group is to restore the James Wyatt-designed Lady Dawson temple near the Monaghan/Cavan border.
Dating from the late 1700s, the temple is set on a wooded island in a lake on the former estate of the Dawson family, Earls of Dartrey. It was built by Thomas Dawson MP to house an elaborate monument to the memory of his wife, Anne, who died at the age of 36 in 1769.
Noel Carney of the Dartrey Heritage Association said the MP had the temple built so he could see it as he worked in his first-floor office in the house across the lake.
Modelled on the pantheon in Rome, the red-brick and limestone temple was a grandiose project, even for the landlord classes. Its Carrera marble sculptures are by Joseph Wilton.
Romantic as the gesture seems, it appears the MP was able to recover from his loss as he married for a second time a year later. History does not record what his second wife thought of the temple.
Over the years the monument has been vandalised and the temple in which it is set has fallen into decay. Mr Carney said the cost of restoration was estimated at about €750,000, a figure he said could be reduced to €500,000 through voluntary work.
Funding is being provided by Monaghan and Cavan county councils and a grants scheme from the Department of the Environment.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
Dating from the late 1700s, the temple is set on a wooded island in a lake on the former estate of the Dawson family, Earls of Dartrey. It was built by Thomas Dawson MP to house an elaborate monument to the memory of his wife, Anne, who died at the age of 36 in 1769.
Noel Carney of the Dartrey Heritage Association said the MP had the temple built so he could see it as he worked in his first-floor office in the house across the lake.
Modelled on the pantheon in Rome, the red-brick and limestone temple was a grandiose project, even for the landlord classes. Its Carrera marble sculptures are by Joseph Wilton.
Romantic as the gesture seems, it appears the MP was able to recover from his loss as he married for a second time a year later. History does not record what his second wife thought of the temple.
Over the years the monument has been vandalised and the temple in which it is set has fallen into decay. Mr Carney said the cost of restoration was estimated at about €750,000, a figure he said could be reduced to €500,000 through voluntary work.
Funding is being provided by Monaghan and Cavan county councils and a grants scheme from the Department of the Environment.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
Apartotel plan is approved for former Riverside Hotel
A FORMER hotel in Sligo is to be converted into an apartotel.
Tadhg Lyne has been granted planning permission by Sligo Borough Council for extensive internal changes to the Riverside Hotel, which has been closed for some time.
The alterations to the ground floor level will include a change of use of part of hotel reception to a bar area and a change of use of existing kitchen and dining areas and portion of the reception and the present bar/restaurant area to two retail units.
The 66 hotel bedrooms on the first, second and third floor levels (22 on each level) will be converted to 30 apartments (eight 1-bedroom and two 2-bedroom on each level) to be used as an aparthotel.
The basement, which contains a separate gym and swimming pool, will be altered to include a reduction in area of the present bar store/plant room to accommodate new ESB meter room.
© Sligo Weekender
Tadhg Lyne has been granted planning permission by Sligo Borough Council for extensive internal changes to the Riverside Hotel, which has been closed for some time.
The alterations to the ground floor level will include a change of use of part of hotel reception to a bar area and a change of use of existing kitchen and dining areas and portion of the reception and the present bar/restaurant area to two retail units.
The 66 hotel bedrooms on the first, second and third floor levels (22 on each level) will be converted to 30 apartments (eight 1-bedroom and two 2-bedroom on each level) to be used as an aparthotel.
The basement, which contains a separate gym and swimming pool, will be altered to include a reduction in area of the present bar store/plant room to accommodate new ESB meter room.
© Sligo Weekender
Scandal of spread of human waste
IN THE WEEKS since over 130 tonnes of partially untreated human waste was spread over farmland at Ballygarrett, many of the residents living close to the site have been struck down with unexplained illnesses prompting them to wonder just how serious is exposure to the substance. Emma Gibson and her fiancé, Darren McLoughlin, live just a few yards from the land in question and say their lives have been made unbearable in recent weeks due to the noxious smell which has engulfed their home. The smell, however, is not their primary concern, but their health, as Ms. Gibson is six months pregnant with their first child and has been in very bad health over the past few weeks. “We have quite a few concerns aside from the terrible smell. The stress and worry of this situation is immense as well as the physical symptoms. I have had very bad pains lately and have been very sick. I have had to visit the
doctor numerous times this week alone and I am extremely worried to think this may be putting our child at risk,” she said. The couple cannot even open their windows due to the strength of the smell. Ms. Gibson also expressed her dismay that the sludge was left on the land even after complaints were made by residents to Wexford County Council. “This substance is already in the soil now and it should have been removed when concerns were first raised. It is an absolute disgrace that nobody is coming back to the residents. We have received no apology. Wexford County Council has received an apology from Dublin City Council but we need more than that. We need a guarantee that this will not happen again”. Breda Cahill lives across the road from the field and says that it is very coincidental that many local residents have been struck down with illness at this time. “There have been high levels of conjunctivitis among residents as well as a lot of vomiting and diarrhoea. I have had my children off sick from school for the second time in two weeks and they are hardly ever ill. These health issues are way more worrying than any smell”. According to Ms. Cahill, the people of Ballygarrett feel they have been fobbed off by Wexford County Council. “We are extremely concerned about the stock pile of sludge still on the farm in question as well as how this may affect our water supply. We need to know if there is a real risk there. There is also the issue of the nearby wind farm which could carry the fumes of this sludge further a field”. Ms. Cahill also described how the sludge has infringed on the quality of life of the public. “We realise that ordinary slurry will smell to a certain extent. I am from a farming background and am well aware that there may be times when there will be certain smells in the country, but this is just unbelievable. Sometimes we can’t even eat with the smell. It is like going into a filthy toilet to have dinner. It is unacceptable.”
Deborah Coleman © Gorey Echo
doctor numerous times this week alone and I am extremely worried to think this may be putting our child at risk,” she said. The couple cannot even open their windows due to the strength of the smell. Ms. Gibson also expressed her dismay that the sludge was left on the land even after complaints were made by residents to Wexford County Council. “This substance is already in the soil now and it should have been removed when concerns were first raised. It is an absolute disgrace that nobody is coming back to the residents. We have received no apology. Wexford County Council has received an apology from Dublin City Council but we need more than that. We need a guarantee that this will not happen again”. Breda Cahill lives across the road from the field and says that it is very coincidental that many local residents have been struck down with illness at this time. “There have been high levels of conjunctivitis among residents as well as a lot of vomiting and diarrhoea. I have had my children off sick from school for the second time in two weeks and they are hardly ever ill. These health issues are way more worrying than any smell”. According to Ms. Cahill, the people of Ballygarrett feel they have been fobbed off by Wexford County Council. “We are extremely concerned about the stock pile of sludge still on the farm in question as well as how this may affect our water supply. We need to know if there is a real risk there. There is also the issue of the nearby wind farm which could carry the fumes of this sludge further a field”. Ms. Cahill also described how the sludge has infringed on the quality of life of the public. “We realise that ordinary slurry will smell to a certain extent. I am from a farming background and am well aware that there may be times when there will be certain smells in the country, but this is just unbelievable. Sometimes we can’t even eat with the smell. It is like going into a filthy toilet to have dinner. It is unacceptable.”
Deborah Coleman © Gorey Echo
Hotelier contests Waterford route change
A Co Waterford hotelier is seeking leave from the High Court to challenge a decision to realign part of the Waterford city bypass road following discovery of an important Viking site at Woodstown.
Butlerstown, claims the approval last February by An Bord Pleanála of the change to the €20 million road, made under the provisions of the National Monuments Act, is invalid and in breach of the constitutional rights of himself and his family.
Mr Coughlan said he accepts that the Woodstown site, apparently dating from the 9th to the mid-11th centuries, is the most important Nordic site discovered within the past 100 years and is of international importance. However, he claims, the proposed road realignment would have a serious adverse impact on his business, property and family life, and those effects should have been considered before the realignment decision was taken.
The entire procedure adopted by Waterford City Council and An Bord Pleanála failed to have any regard to his personal rights as a citizen, he said. He also claims that he is unable to formulate a claim for compensation because the road scheme, which is being developed as a public/private partnership, has not been fully designed and the level of the road has not been determined.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday fixed June 19th next for the hearing of the application by Mr Coughlan, his wife, Catherine, and their company, Waterford Manor Hotel Ltd, for leave to challenge the realignment decision of February 6th 2007 in judicial review proceedings.
The judge said that, if the court decides Mr Coughlan has established the necessary substantial grounds to justify leave being granted, the court would also hear the substantive action on the same day. He was mindful of the contractual and other pressures involved, he said.
The court had heard that contractual problems would arise if the €20 million road realignment was delayed, and July 21st was the date for handover of the relevant lands
© Irish Times
Butlerstown, claims the approval last February by An Bord Pleanála of the change to the €20 million road, made under the provisions of the National Monuments Act, is invalid and in breach of the constitutional rights of himself and his family.
Mr Coughlan said he accepts that the Woodstown site, apparently dating from the 9th to the mid-11th centuries, is the most important Nordic site discovered within the past 100 years and is of international importance. However, he claims, the proposed road realignment would have a serious adverse impact on his business, property and family life, and those effects should have been considered before the realignment decision was taken.
The entire procedure adopted by Waterford City Council and An Bord Pleanála failed to have any regard to his personal rights as a citizen, he said. He also claims that he is unable to formulate a claim for compensation because the road scheme, which is being developed as a public/private partnership, has not been fully designed and the level of the road has not been determined.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday fixed June 19th next for the hearing of the application by Mr Coughlan, his wife, Catherine, and their company, Waterford Manor Hotel Ltd, for leave to challenge the realignment decision of February 6th 2007 in judicial review proceedings.
The judge said that, if the court decides Mr Coughlan has established the necessary substantial grounds to justify leave being granted, the court would also hear the substantive action on the same day. He was mindful of the contractual and other pressures involved, he said.
The court had heard that contractual problems would arise if the €20 million road realignment was delayed, and July 21st was the date for handover of the relevant lands
© Irish Times
Protesters blockade M3 building site
Opponents of the M3 motorway in Co Meath stepped up their protest yesterday, blockading entrances to the construction site at Roestown, and preventing vehicles from moving in or out.
Gardaí were called in by contractors Siac Ferrovial after the blockade began at the construction compound, about one kilometre north of Dunshaughlin, at 6am yesterday.
However, gardaí did not remove the protesters and by late afternoon the demonstrators claimed a team on nine people had prevented access to five gates to the motorway site.
A spokesman for the protesters who are based at a vigil camp nearby contacted The Irish Times to say they were "sitting at the entrance to a huge compound at Roestown on the Dunsany to Dunshaughlin road.
"There are approximately 15 huge earth-moving machines blockaded into the compound and unable to work.
"The gardaí were on site this morning at 7.30 but haven't returned since."
The protesters also issued an appeal for others to join their protest. "We are appealing to all friends of Tara to come to the valley to stand and be counted as the National Roads Authority are trying to keep the destruction of our ancestral home quiet until after Thursday."
They also said they had remained in the entrance but alterations to the boundary fence by the contractor had left them fenced in.
By 5pm the protesters had contacted gardaí themselves to complain about this.
The remains of a large enclosure were discovered at Roestown by archaeologists working for the National Roads Authority.
The complex, known as Roestown 2, was already bisected by the existing N3 and sits at a point where the M3 will cross the N3 for the first time heading out from Dublin.
The archaeologists determined that Roestown 2 was likely to be an early medieval settlement.
A spokeswoman for Siac Ferrovial said five people "blocked a few of the site entrances to prevent plant and machinery entering and exiting a small section of the site".
She added that gardaí were called "as it is the responsibility of the company to protect the health and safety of its workers and the public on its site".
The spokeswoman added that "work is continuing as normal on the rest of the 60km scheme".
The protest took place as a number of academics met at Trinity College Dublin in opposition to the road.
The conference resulted in a unanimous call for Opposition leader Enda Kenny to address the Hill of Tara/M3 motorway issue.
The conference was hosted by the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Speakers included Dr Sean Duffy of the department of medieval history; Dr Gerald Morgan of the department of English; Vincent Salafia and Independent Meath County Councillor Phil Cantwell.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
Gardaí were called in by contractors Siac Ferrovial after the blockade began at the construction compound, about one kilometre north of Dunshaughlin, at 6am yesterday.
However, gardaí did not remove the protesters and by late afternoon the demonstrators claimed a team on nine people had prevented access to five gates to the motorway site.
A spokesman for the protesters who are based at a vigil camp nearby contacted The Irish Times to say they were "sitting at the entrance to a huge compound at Roestown on the Dunsany to Dunshaughlin road.
"There are approximately 15 huge earth-moving machines blockaded into the compound and unable to work.
"The gardaí were on site this morning at 7.30 but haven't returned since."
The protesters also issued an appeal for others to join their protest. "We are appealing to all friends of Tara to come to the valley to stand and be counted as the National Roads Authority are trying to keep the destruction of our ancestral home quiet until after Thursday."
They also said they had remained in the entrance but alterations to the boundary fence by the contractor had left them fenced in.
By 5pm the protesters had contacted gardaí themselves to complain about this.
The remains of a large enclosure were discovered at Roestown by archaeologists working for the National Roads Authority.
The complex, known as Roestown 2, was already bisected by the existing N3 and sits at a point where the M3 will cross the N3 for the first time heading out from Dublin.
The archaeologists determined that Roestown 2 was likely to be an early medieval settlement.
A spokeswoman for Siac Ferrovial said five people "blocked a few of the site entrances to prevent plant and machinery entering and exiting a small section of the site".
She added that gardaí were called "as it is the responsibility of the company to protect the health and safety of its workers and the public on its site".
The spokeswoman added that "work is continuing as normal on the rest of the 60km scheme".
The protest took place as a number of academics met at Trinity College Dublin in opposition to the road.
The conference resulted in a unanimous call for Opposition leader Enda Kenny to address the Hill of Tara/M3 motorway issue.
The conference was hosted by the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Speakers included Dr Sean Duffy of the department of medieval history; Dr Gerald Morgan of the department of English; Vincent Salafia and Independent Meath County Councillor Phil Cantwell.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
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