Quarry planning appeal rejected

THE company behind plans to extract 4.5 million tonnes of material from a site in Co Clare has failed to secure planning permission for the proposal.

Last year, the council refused planning for the contentious quarry near Ruan, which attracted the support of a number of bogus supporters, with unknown people supplying fictitious names and addresses with the council in support of the scheme.

Lagan Bitumen Ltd appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála on a number of grounds.

Bord Pleanála has now refused planning permission, endorsing the view of its inspector. The inspector also determined that quarrying activities on the site have been determined to be unauthorised.