Local residents have raised objections to plans to expand a quarry near Claregalway for up to 25 years by Harrington Concrete & Quarry.
The planning application submitted with Galway County Council is for the extraction of rock from a 4.35 hectare site at the company’s quarry at Ardgaineen, Claregalway.
Quarrying would involve blasting to a depth of 5m using explosives and transporting the material to a crushing and screening plant.
The company is seeking a 25 year permission as part of the planning application.
There are strong objections to the plans from the people of nearby Corrandrum.
A public meeting was held by the Corrandrum District & Residents Association earlier this week to discuss the plans for the expansion of the quarry.
The meeting was attended by roughly 50 people from the area, as well as local councillors Mary Hoade, Peter Roche, and James Charity.
Representatives from Harrington Concrete and Quarries were also there to speak their piece.
According to the Residents Association the opinion at the meeting was that, “The local community in attendance would like to stop all further development at Harrington’s quarry.”
“It’s time for the intrusion to stop so that we can have our community back to live in peace and safety.”
The Residents Association plans to help local residents who object to the plans to make submissions to the county council before the closing date of September 17.
One submission already made to the council by a resident of Kilchill, Claregalway says that the added dust pollution from the quarry would be a health hazard to her son who is receiving treatment for leukemia.
An Environmental Impact Assessment report was prepared by Earth Science Partnership Ireland, a consultancy firm based out of Westport, to accompany the application.
It claimed that the works would have no effect on Lough Corrib, the largest nearby body of water that could be at risk of pollution.
The person also claims that vibrations from blasts at the quarry have caused damage to their chimney and house walls, witnessed by an HSE Health & Safety Officer in May.
The application by Harrington states that landscaping and restoration works would be carried out on the site and for all associated facilities.
A decision is due from Galway County Council on whether to allow this expansion of the Harrington Quarry to go ahead by October 8.
