Efforts to block plan to resume blasting at quarry
Company rejects claims about impact on homes, roads and the environment
PEOPLE in the Carraroe area have objected to a plan to resume work at a quarry as they fear blasting work there may damage their homes and other properties. But the company behind the quarry application, Lagan Materials, has rejected this and claims about the impact operations would have on roads and the environment. The company said that blasting will be no different to when the quarry operated previously, and pointed out that the company is an important employer in Sligo.
LOCAL residents in the Carraroe area of Sligo near Lough Gill fear that a quarry operation which has sought permission to restart work there has the potential to damage property once blasting operations begin.
They say they have “serious concerns” that roads will also be damaged, hedgerows will be left coated in dust and the roads will not be safe to walk on if the application is granted. An individual objector claims that the size of blasts at the quarry have varied over the years while another said he feared structural damage would be caused to his home.
In response to a June 17 application from Lagan Materials Ltd to recommence quarry operations, objections have been lodged to Sligo County Council’s planning section by Carraroe and District Regeneration Association and two individuals, all of whom say they have “serious concerns” in relation to the impact of the development.
They have asked Sligo County Council to consider possible damage caused by the development to their community and area. The association raised concerns they have in relation to the potential damage to property by blasting 22-50 metres deep.
In a statement issued by Lagan, they rebuff this, pointing out that their application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) which concluded that the recommencement of operations will not result in any significant impacts on water supply.
The statement adds: “The matter of blasting and vibration was addressed in the EIAR and included an assessment of historical vibration records for the quarry. These records confirmed that all historical blasting carried out at the quarry was done so in full compliance with the vibration limits outlined in the planning permission and in accordance with recommended emission limit values. “The EIAR concludes that blasting operations at the site will not have a significant impact on sensitive receptors, including residences in the area.” Lagan says the development secures existing jobs in the area and will create new jobs: “This development will help service demand for high quality product for the large number of exciting construction projects in the pipeline for Sligo Town and the Northern and Western Region under the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.
“As well as securing existing jobs in the area, the development will create a substantial number of new jobs. “Carraroe and District Regeneration Association, which is an umbrella representative organisation for Tidy Towns, text alert, cpr/defibrillators, seniors alert scheme and development of the Carraroe area, said: “Our organisation, as representative of the community, has serious concerns as to the effects the proposals outlined in the above application will have on the existing houses and residents in the area.
“We wish to convey our serious concerns in relation to the impact of this development and request Sligo County Council consider possible damage caused by this development to our community and area.
“We have very serious concerns in relation to the potential damage to property by blasting 22-50 metres deep. “We have major concerns around the effects of lorry movement on the area’s road network, including deposit of dust onto hedgerows, damage to road verges, danger for people walking, without footpaths, on roads in our community and spillage of materials on our community roads.”
The application from Lagan says the company intends to apply for permission for development at Aughamore Near, Aughamore Far and Carrownamaddoo townlands of Carraroe.
They maintain the development is a “recommencement” of quarry operations within the previously permitted quarry extraction area.
Lagan Materials Ltd maintains its proposed operations would be at the same production level as previously permitted at the site.
The planning permission, which is being sought for a 10-year term, includes proposed deepening of the existing quarry from c. -21m OD to -50m OD.
Lagan says that as well as meeting demand for product, its plans will also help secure existing jobs in the area, as well as creating a substantial number of new jobs.
Lagan Materials is part of the Breedon Group PLC, a construction materials group operating in Ireland and Britain which employs circa 3,600 people.
Michael O’Hart, who also has objected to the application, says he has a number of issues, among them the application does not address the size of blasts sought.
He said: “The quarry has expanded laterally well beyond the original permission to this should be treated as an initial application and not as a renewal.
“Experience over the years have shown that blasts have varied considerably in size.
“When complaints were made about vibrations, invariably a reduction in size was made for the next one, but this was not maintained. As a result many residents complained of cracks to their houses.
“Because of this experience, I consider it essential that a study is carried out on the rock formation in the area to assess the effects on housing from the proposed deepening of the quarry to 50 metres and the effects of operations on the water levels of the turlough situated at Cuilbeg.”
A third objection from Patrick Staunton states: “I am particularly worried about the impact of blasting on my property and the structural damage that may be caused. I have already had to replace glass in windows due to damage to seals. “Associated levels of noise and dust will also have a detrimental affect on the quality of life for me and my family.”
Lagan says the restart of operations at this established quarry addresses important sustainability objectives rather than seeking to develop a greenfield quarry at some other location within the county where there is no previous extractive industry land use:
“We have owned the existing quarry site at Aughamore since 2014, following the decision of the previous operator to exit the Irish market. “Aggregate extraction and related activities have been an established land use at Aughamore since the 1950s. “The recommencement of operations at this established quarry, which is strategically located in close proximity to Sligo Town addresses important sustainability objectives rather than seeking to develop a greenfield quarry at some other location within the county where there is no previous extractive industry land use.” Lagan says its proposed operations will be at the same production level as previously permitted at the site and will be undertaken within the existing established site, with no new activities or processes proposed.
They add that they engaged extensively in pre-application with Sligo County Council and Irish Water.
The statement continues: “As the proposed operations will be at the same production level as previously permitted at the site, there will be no increase in traffic arising from site activities above what previously occurred.
“The traffic and transport assessment confirmed that all roads and junctions to be utilised by the quarry continue to have sufficient capacity to cater for the development, as they have in the past.
“The matter of blasting and vibration was addressed in the EIAR and included an assessment of historical vibration records for the quarry. “These records confirmed that all historical blasting carried out at the quarry, was done so in full compliance with the vibration limits outlined in the planning permission and in accordance with recommended emission limit values.
“The EIAR concludes that blasting operations at the site will not have a significant impact on sensitive receptors, including residences in the area. “The company likes to work with local communities and fully appreciate that local residents may have concerns regarding the proposed recommencement of quarry operations at Aughamore.
“In this regard, the company has been in contact with a local public representative with a view to arranging a meeting to discuss such concerns, and looks forward to having that opportunity to engage.”