County Council’s go-ahead for major quarry extension amid local objections

Offaly County Council has granted planning permission to plans for a significant extension of an existing sand and gravel extraction facility by Kilsaran Concrete in Screggan, outside Tullamore.

The proposals at Bunaterin, Claragh and Heath townlands in Screggan, had been met with significant local opposition, with many residents lodging submissions against the proposal.

Residents had expressed concerns relating to noise pollution, impact on air quality, traffic impacts, the extensive scale of the extension and proximity to homes amongst others.

The council on July 23 granted permission, subject to 18 conditions, for the plan which involves the continue use of the existing and and gravel pit and ancillary operations and extension of an area of extraction of 30.8 hectares to the north and east of the existing pit.

Processing of the extracted materials will continue to be carried out on-site to produce a range of aggregates for use by the applicant in the manufacture of concrete and asphalt at its on-site existing manufacturing plants.

The conditions attached to the planning permission include authorisation for the extraction of up to 360,000 tonnes of sand and gravel per year over 18 years

The developer is also required to engage a suitably qualified archaeologist to monitor all topsoil stripping associated with the proposed development.

And, prior to the commencement of the development, the developer must pay a contribution of €470,008 to the council towards the cost of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting the development.

The company said the proposal would secure the continued employment of 32 people.

Among those to make formal submissions against the plan were Minister of State Pippa Hackett

The council granted permission for the project involving the continued use of a previously permitted sand and gravel extraction and processing facility as well as an extension of the existing sand and gravel pit. For a total duration of 20 years (including two years of restoration work)

In her submission, Senator Hackett said: “I am deeply concerned that Kilsaran's application, if granted, will have serious negative impacts in a number of interrelated domains: human health, most importantly, but also noise pollution and impact on the environment.”

She said: “It is clear from the concerns of local residents, as expressed in the huge volume of submissions already received by the Planning Authority, that the quarrying operation has had a seriously negative impact on their health, and their families' health, in recent decade.”

Senator Hackett called on the planning authority to reject the application and to require the applicant to “progressively return the site to its former agricultural usage.”

Two other local councillors Tony McCormack and Danny Owens also made submissions to Offaly County Council expressing concerns.