Cavan County Council Pro-Development

cavan | environment | press release

Sunday September 05, 2004 01:38

by Michael Lynch - Red Branch Heritage

redbranch at oceanfree dot net

Red Branch Heritage appeal for support

Cavan based heritage group Red Branch Heritage have renewed their urgent appeal for all concerned people who wish a two thousand year old landmark to be protected to contact Cavan County Council and register their disquiet.

Expanding Quarry "a blight on the landscape"

Susan Hayes, Red Branch Heritage secretary said that with National Heritage week approaching her organisation had plans to highlight growing public disquiet at the planning policies of Cavan County Council in relation to the protection of Heritage sites in the county. In many recent controversial planning applications relating to a conflict of interest between developers and heritage interests, Cavan County Council has invariably come down in favor of granting the permission despite legitimate concerns. Last year the council granted planning approval for a limestone quarry at Mountnugent despite local objections. An appeal to An Board Pleanala overturned this decision.
A controversial proposed development in Belturbet which included the building of 58 apartments near a protected building in the town on the banks of the river Erne was also granted planning approval by Cavan County Council despite local objections and this week An Board Pleanala again overturned the decision and refused permission.
Susan Hayes stated that her group would shortly be releasing a detailed report on heritage sites in the Denn area, to mark National Heritage Week. This report will include proposals to have the Black Pig’s Dyke and other important archeological sites in the Denn/Carrickaboy catchment included in Cavan County Councils inventory of protected sites as listed in the County Cavan Development Plan 2003-2009. This area of the county has being completely omitted from the current list stated Miss Hayes. “The Council have completely failed to deliver on the clear commitments given in the plan to protect heritage sites from being damaged or their setting spoiled by adjoining development,” stated Miss Hayes.
Susan Hayes said she was disappointed that the recently appointed County Manager, Mr. Jack Keyes has publicly stated his disagreement with An Board Pleanala’s decision to refuse permission for the Belturbet development, stating that he is “pro-development”.
The council seems to be working in a hand in glove fashion with development interests and ignoring the concerns of people living in the county who had genuine concerns about losing important archeological remains.
Susan went on to criticise many local councilors for not showing any interest in protecting such monuments and continually criticizing environmental and heritage groups such as An Taisce for raising legitimate concerns.

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Comments (2 of 2)

Fianna Fail's illegal quarries are countrywide.

by john mcdermott - Remove Fianna Fail

Thu Sep 09, 2004 02:41

Has nobody noticed a connection between the Gombeen councilors -Mostly -but not all-Fianna Failer's,who don't give a tinkers damn about our heritage and archaelogical sites.
Remember this ..you or your neighbours elected the hoodlums who ride roughshod over our history ,and our souls.
Martin Brennan represents the archetype..the new Adolf .You have three more years(at least )to suffer this bunch of crooks Ray Burke,Pee Flynn,Liam Lawlor,etc etc-not forgetting 'Blank cheque Bertie-the cutest of them all.Enjoy Bertie...as you say it's just a game.Your soul won't even feel the pain when you reach your own special hell..I loved your crocodile tears in incha-whatever its called.

Photos of Cavan Illegal Quarry Work Released

Sun Sep 05, 2004 03:40

Pictures Show Landscape Destruction
Red Branch Heritage in Cavan has this weekend released a number of disturbing pictures showing how the work to extend Ardkill quarry has already damaged the local landscape
Group chairman John O’Reilly said his group was stepping up their efforts to draw public attention to this deplorable situation. This work clearing topsoil from a newly purchased area of Ardkill More Mountain, Carrickaboy began last April without planning approval. However pressure placed on Cavan County Council led to the Nulty quarry company attempting to apply for planning approval in recent weeks, however that application was found invalid by Cavan Co. Council. Another application is expected. John Nulty Limited the quarry company involved even started drilling work on the newly cleared land until public complaints again forced the county council to halt this activity.
The original quarry works has destroyed a two hundred yard stretch of the ancient defensive earthworks known as the Black Pig’s Dyke, which runs across the western slopes of the mountain. This is the only surviving stretch of the dyke in county Cavan.
Mr. O’Reilly said his group hoped the more public pressure would secure the future of this ancient monument. The quarry has become a blight on the landscape stated John O’Reilly.
It’s a classic example of how not to site a quarry from both an archeological and landscape point of view concluded the chairman.

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