Council has no plans to fill in quarry

LOUTH County Council has no plans to fill in the old cement quarry on the North Road, it has been confirmed.

However, a local councillor has said he is ‘disappointed’ to hear this and claims the site should be filled in and used as a Park and Ride facility.

The issue was raised in a notice of question at the February meeting of Drogheda Municipal District by Councillor Frank Godfrey.

He asked when the public could expect to see the old cement quarry on the North Road/Killineer Road filled in as it poses a danger to public safety. He also asked who owns this land. Responding to the question, a spokesperson for Louth County Council said the filling in of these quarries is not a feasible proposition.

The spokesperson said the land is in the ownership of Louth County Council and a number of other landowners.

Speaking following the meeting, Councillor Godfrey expressed his disappointment at the response of Louth County Council to his request. ‘I am disappointed with the response but not surprised’ he said. ‘ This quarry hasn’t been in use since 1970s and is now just a massive hole in the ground. It’s very dangerous as it’s full of water and is hundreds of feet deep. Some accidents occurred there in the past, including a fatality years ago.’

Cllr Godfrey requested that Louth County Council fill it in, and also asked who owns it. The Council replied that the land is in its ownership and that of a number of private individuals.

‘It can’t be left like this! It should be filled in, and somebody has to be responsible for filling it in,’ he said.

Cllr Godfrey pointed out that this is a very valuable piece of land, and in a town with huge traffic problems, it would be an ideal space for a Park & Ride facility or car parking.