Residents demand halt to quarrying

RAMPANT quarrying is threatening to overwhelm an east Cork community, a lobby group warned yesterday.

Members of Carrigtwohill Environmental Alliance (CEA) met with Cork County Manager Maurice Moloney and senior council officials yesterday as their campaign to curb the expansion of the industry stepped up.

The group said residents were very concerned about plans for a sixth quarry.

CEA said residents had concerns about quarry compliance, noise and dust pollution, the level of truck movements, and about possible damage to their homes from blasting.

There are five quarries operating on land between the N25 linking Cork to Midleton, and the North Channel which forms the inner reaches of Cork Harbour.

Readymix operates two sites, Healy Brothers, who operate one, are seeking planning permission for another in the area.

O’Connor’s, John A Wood and Lagan Quarry also operate quarries nearby.

They are all quarrying for limestone, sand and gravel in the Barryscourt, Rossmore, Ballintubbrid and Ballyvodock townlands.

The areas in which they operate contain an area of conservation and a special protected area for birds.

The area also contains caves and middens - places where food deposits remain, such as shellfish and animal bones - dating back to the Neolithic age.

“This environmental gem is now threatened by rampant quarrying,” CEA said.

The group was formed last November to highlight residents’ concerns. CEA said greater controls are needed on existing quarries and further expansion must be curtailed.

“There is now a semi-circle of six quarries surrounding and gradually overwhelming townlands on the north shore of the channel,” the group said.

“In addition, Rossmore has a badly-placed municipal landfill beside the sea and there are plans for the largest composting facility in the country to be built there.

“Locals fear the aggressive environmental degradation of the area by quarrying is contrary to the county development plan and seriously at variance with the public interest.”

Minister of State, Michael Ahern, who organised yesterday’s meeting, said it was very constructive.

“There will be further communication between both sides to get a positive response to residents’ concerns,” he said.

Meanwhile, a decision on Healy Brothers’ application to operate a new 40-hectare quarry in Rossmore is due next month.