Call to put traffic plan in place before power station gets go-ahead

HEAVY traffic generated by the building of a power station and an accompanying LNG (liquefied natural gas) importing terminal in Tarbert, Co Kerry, could cause serious congestion in the village, an oral planning hearing was told in Listowel yesterday.

Upwards of 500 construction jobs are expected to be provided in what will be one of the biggest investments ever undertaken in the north Kerry and west Limerick areas. But Tarbert Development Association, which is supporting the project, called for a traffic management plan to be prepared in advance of construction work on the €500 million project. “There would be major concern about what might happen during the construction phase if such a plan was not in place,” said chairwoman Joan Murphy.

Energy multi-national Endesa – which is seeking planning permission from An Bord Pleanála for a gas-fired electricity generating station on the site of the old Tarbert ESB station – has pledged to consult with the community at all stages of the project.

Referring to the width of the street and allowing parking on both sides, the association called for an inner relief road, extra parking facilities and a new sewage system for the Shannon Estuary village.

Kerry County Council senior executive engineer Frank Hartnett said the street was sufficiently wide for two-way traffic but not when cars were parked on both sides.

To solve the problem, parking would be allowed on one side, more off-street parking would be provided and there would be an inner relief road, he added.

Mr Hartnett, however, said there were also issues with land acquisition andtitle. “We’re progressing the situation and are committed to (traffic) improvements in the village,” he stated.

Ms Murphy said the association, which believes construction work could last from six to 10 years, was satisfied with what the council had told the hearing on a traffic management plan.

She also urged Endesa to honour its commitment to employ as much local labour as possible during the construction phase.

Opposing the development, Tom O’Donovan, a Tarbert man and member of the Safety Before LNG group, said while theconstruction jobs were welcome on a short-term basis,they were not sustainable.

He said the Tarbert ESB station, purchased by Endesa two years ago, employed 240 people at its peak, but the new station would create only 38 permanent jobs.

An Taisce energy officer Elizabeth Muldowney said there were major questions about the strategic need for the project. She called on Bord Pleanála to delay approval for the plant until Endesa gave satisfactory reasons about the need for it.

Claiming gas was “not future-proof”, she felt wind and wave resources should be developed.