Local activists legal celebrate victory over Gort Biogas Plant plans

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Galway Daily news Public meeting to discuss approval of Gort BioGas plant
Photo Credit: Vasyatka

Gort Biogas Concern Group has claimed victory in a legal battle against plans for a biogas plant in Gort.

The Gort Biogas Concern Group brought a High Court challenge against An Bord Pleanála’s decision to approve the plans back in August.

Today the group said in a statement that the case has come to an end, with An Bord Pleanála conceding “to our benefit”.

The organisation said that “common sense” has prevailed, and thanked the people of south Galway for their support in this campaign.

“This campaign is the culmination of five long years of hard work and dedication from the volunteer members of the Gort Biogas Concern Group with the full support of the Burren Lowlands Group.”

“The group has worked tirelessly and has scaled many mountains to reach this point. We have all learned a great deal from this campaign and made some great friends along the way.”

“We can all bask briefly in the sunshine of this achievement, but we will remain vigilant to this and other such developments that threaten our local environment, our amazing community and the future viability of Gort Inse Guaire as a great place to live, work and visit.”

The proposed Biogas plant would have been built on a 10ha site in the townlands of Ballynamantan, Kinincha and Glenbrack just a few hundred metres outside Gort, producing fertiliser and energy through the treatment of farm waste.

An Bord Pleanála gave it the green light in late 2022, overturning two rejections by the county council based on road traffic and environmental concerns.