Public meeting over Laois quarry plans

Opponents of a planned quarry extension in the Slieve Bloom Mountains are holding a public meeting this Thursday. 

The ‘Say no to Glendine Quarry’ group are opposed to plans to extract 800,000 tonnes of gravel and sand from a site near Camross.

Breedon Materials Limited (trading as Breedon Ireland) is seeking permission at an existing quarry at the townlands of Mounthall and Cummer, Camross. The plan, which doesn’t include any blasting, would also see 51,000 tonnes of topsoil removed and stored before being replaced once the quarrying is complete. 

The site doesn’t have existing planning permission for sand or gravel extraction at present but it is registered as a quarry under Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. 

The existing gravel pit measures 1.2 hectares and Breedon wants to extend the quarrying area to cover around eighth hectares of the total 12 hectare site.

Breedon Materials Ltd has applied to Laois County Council for permission to develop the site to include a mobile processing plant, weighbridge and portacabin. 

They are seeking “continued use and extension to existing permitted sand and gravel pit registered under Section 261 of the Planning & Development Act 2000, as amended (site ref. QY05/10) within an overall application area of c. 12.2 hectares; 2)Extraction of sand and gravel (dry working) over an area of c. 8 hectares with processing and washing of material on site (closed loop water recycling system with associated silt storage lagoons 1,952.25m2), and all ancillary works and structures.”

The plan also seeks to build  “site facilities consisting of mobile processing plant, portacabin site office (6.25m²), portacabin welfare facility (18.9m²), serviced portaloo toilet, bunded fuel storage and refuelling pad with hydrocarbon interceptor, weighbridge, wheelwash, water supply borehole, perimeter berms, vegetation planting and fencing; 4) Access to the site will be via the existing sand & gravel pit entrance; 5) Restoration of the site to agricultural lands; and 6)The proposed extraction operational period is for 10 years plus one year to complete restoration (total duration sought 11 years).” 

Local resident Kathy Phelan is opposed to the proposal. She believes the roads are unsuitable and that the plan would be harmful to the local environment and to tourism. 

She isn’t alone in voicing her concern over the proposals. 

Hannah Flynn who runs Roundwood House is also concerned about the proposal. 

“I run a country house hotel, Roundwood House, at the foot of the Slieve Bloom and many of our guests enjoy walking in the mountains while staying with us. Glendine is a particularly popular spot and it would be such a shame if I could no longer send our guests that way due to the visual degradation of the landscape, as well as the noise and dust pollution, should the quarry be granted planning permission,” she said. 

Laois County Council is expected to make a decision on the planned quarry by November 13. 

A spokesperson for Breedon Materials said they couldn’t comment on the plans.   

The opposition group is meeting in Bloom HQ in  Mountrath this Thursday, October 17 at 7.30pm.