Quarry refused but locals wary of enforcement

Quarry refused but locals weary of enforcement


Michael Duffy

A QUARRY development located at Creevagh, Cong, has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála – but locals fear that a lack of enforcement may allow the developer to continue operating.
Mr Gerry Varley, who applied to Mayo County Council through agent, Mr Paul Mannion, Quarry Road, Mionlach, Galway, had his initial application to the Council for a retention of the quarry at Creevagh refused last February.
The refusal was appealed to An Bord Pleanála and, despite the inspector assigned to the file granting permission for the retention, the Board of Directors decided to refuse the application.
A spokesperson for a local group, Residents and Landowners’ Committee of Creevagh Cong, said they were delighted with the decision to refuse but they were still very weary because Mayo County Council has known the quarry has been operating without permission for the last four years but has never brought the matter to court for enforcement.
The spokesperson went on to say that although An Bord Pleanála have now refused the development, it is still up to Mayo County Council to enforce the decision and due to a lack of resources in that department of the Council, they fear this may never happen.
“It seems to me that the enforcement section of the Planning Department is grossly understaffed and some developers know that they can continue to operate even though they have no planning permission.
“The direct result of this in Creevagh is a lot of limestone pavement area in a priority habitat under the EU Habitat Directive has been destroyed. The area also hosts an ecologically-valuable, historical, semi-natural woodland, associated with the geology and landscape of the site.”