Fury over planning lapse at Cork quarry

A COUNTY council has confirmed it could not take action against illegal quarrying on a John A Wood site because too much time had elapsed.

In a letter from Cork County Council to the Southern Regional Fisheries Board (SRFB) in May this year, its enforcement section admitted planning permission should have been sought for gravel extraction on two acres of Skahanagh South site, at Watergrasshill, Co Cork.

“Two acres ... was stripped ... and approximately 1.25 acres of gravel was extracted. Planning permission should have been sought for this part of the development. However, as the unauthorised development occurred in 1994, the Planning Authority is statute-barred from taking enforcement proceedings,” the letter read.