Cork objectors ‘rail’ against Adare project

AN APPEAL has been lodged against plans to raise the height of a railway bridge in Adare - on behalf of an environmental company from West Cork.

Irish Rail’s plans to increase the height of a crossing over the River Maigue to protect against flooding face further scrutiny with An Bord Pleanala set to decide.

The bridge lies along the Limerick to Foynes rail line which is set to re-open to freight traffic, and potentially passenger services in time for the 2027 Ryder Cup.

It’s already been removed for restoration with a view to reinstating the rail link.

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After planners in Limerick approved the project to raise its height, Peter Sweetman, who has an address in Bantry, County Cork and who made a submission to Limerick City and County Council, exercised his right to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

Documents provided to the national appeals body claim he is acting on behalf of a company called Wild Ireland Defence which is based in North Allihies at Beara in west Cork.

The company describes its principal activity as “education, advocacy, and activism of all types in the protection, conservation, preservation and defence of the natural and built environment.”

In the objection to a development which is geographically almost 170km away from Allihies, Mr Sweetman lists a number of sets of legal functions that Limerick’s planning authority has when deciding on an application.

One of these is taking into account the Habitats Directive, an EU law designed to protect species including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, plants and other habitat types.

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Citing previous cases, Mr Sweetman wrote the Habitats Directive is a “strict standard” and “the planning authority does not have legal jurisdiction to give permission if it is not met.”

As part of further information in his appeal, Mr Sweetman states: “The fence is in the curtilage of a protected structure. It is awful.”

He also referenced the Natura Impact Statement, a report arising from an assessment under the Habitats Directive.
“The Natura Impact Statement does not address all the possible effects,” he wrote.

There was one other appeal against the Irish Rail proposals from two people living close to the site.