Fate of Kilmessan quarry project to be known shortly

A decision is due within the next week from Meath County Council on a controversial quarry planning application in Kilmessan. The planning authority had sought further information on the application from Kilsaran for the continuation of a quarry development and the development of a further two benches within the previously approved extraction footprint area for a new permission term of 22 years. The application came on foot of a previous refusal from Bord Pleanala for a block-making facility on the site at Swainstown and Tullykane, when the planning appeals board overturned a grant of permission by the county council, saying that it came into conflict with the existing quarry planning. There is widespread local opposition to the further development of the quarry, with over 100 objections launched. Permission is also being sought for a new Readymix concrete batching facility to be located on the existing quarry floor, comprising a batching house, 10 overground aggregate storage bins, three cement silos, an ESB substation, three ground storage aggregate bays, a storage building, a prefabricated office building, a six-bay water recycling installation, and new septic tank and effluent treatment system. An environmental impact statement (EIS) was prepared with the application. Recently, a decision to grant permission to a Kilsaran development at Mulhussey and Mullagh near Kilcock was overruled by Bord Pleanala. The planned development consisted of a new limestone rock quarry, with a quarry footprint and access road that would cover an area of 11.8 hectares. Kilsaran had appealed against the planning conditions, while 15 objectors also appealed the decision, including a number of local studs, St Joseph"s National School and Mulhussey Residents" Group. Among those who welcomed the decision was local Labour party candidate, Michael McLoughlin. Meanwhile, Thomas Byrne TD and Sinead Moore, a Fianna Fail local election candidate, have welcomed the news that Kilsaran Concrete has withdrawn its application for additional quarrying at their site in Bellewstown. 'I welcome this decision by Kilsaran Concrete,' Ms Moore said. 'A huge number of submissions were lodged by concerned local residents, including myself and Deputy Byrne. There were important road safety, health and environmental considerations to take into account with regard to this project and I was pleased that Kilsaran Concrete have apparently applied common sense and withdrawn their application.' Deputy Byrne added: 'I objected to this project because there is simply too much quarrying in the Bellewstown area already, both authorised and unauthorised. Residents are putting up with too much.'