Sign opposing in-fill at Calary Quarry is vandalised with paint
A sign opposing plans to infill Calary Quarry has been spray-painted.
The sign is on private land opposite the entrance to the quarry. Diving expert Albert Kerr said that the sign is there with permission.
He said that it cost €600 and is eight feet by four feet. ‘ They obliterated the full picture of the lake, and the slogan “save Lake Calary,”’ said Albert.
‘ They spray-painted over them completely. Someone had to climb over the gate to get into the field and use a tin of spray paint. Nowhere else in the area was vandalised, no other surface in the area sprayed. Someone made a decision to go in and ruin the sign.’
Mr Kerr has appealed planning permission granted to Roadstone to backfill the water-filled quarry. A decision is due in August, and Mr Kerr is calling for an oral hearing to be held.
The company said in its application that it intends to establish a grassland habitat, similar to that which existed prior to quarrying. The application includes filling the lake with over 3.2 million tonnes of waste material over up to 20 years.
Mr Kerr has appealed to the permission granted by Wicklow County Council as a representative of a group of ‘environmentally concerned’ local people, and activity, adventure and sporting groups. They say that the granting of the application will mean the loss of an opportunity for the north Wicklow community. Among the points Mr Kerr makes in his appeal, he said that the amount of tonnage, means up to 40 further trucks per day, for 13 to 20 years. He said that the quarry, rather than being a ‘void’ is a scenic lake with its own ecosystem.
‘It has the potential to become an ideal all year round public recreational facility to support all kinds of sporting activities.’ His application makes the point that the site is located in a rural landscape designated ‘Mountain and Lakeshore Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (ML-AONB) within the current county development plan.
‘ There are several listed views and prospects within a 5km radius of Calary Quarry and the quarry is visible within a number of them.’