Green light for Laois quarry operations despite local objections

A Laois quarry has been granted permission to continue operating for 29 years despite objections from local householders including a couple with a young child with special needs who live 175 metres from the site. 

Lagan Materials Ltd was granted permission, subject to conditions, which will allow the removal of a maximum of 200,000 tonnes of material a year from an existing quarry at Knockbaun, Spink. 

An Bord Pleanala approved the plans, subject to 16 conditions, which will result in blasting resuming at the quarry where up to 50 truckloads of material a day can now be removed.

The approval allows for “the continued use and operation of the existing quarry including deepening of the quarry. Extraction will be confined to the existing permitted quarry area (P.A. Ref. 10/383) comprising an extraction area of c. 14.5 ha within an overall application area of c. 19.6 ha.” The planning application was accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).

The plans had previously been granted by Laois County Council subject to 31 planning conditions in September 2022. That decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by a number of nearby residents. 

Among them was a couple who said their home was 175 metres from the quarry and they have two young children under the age of three. One of the children has special needs. They bought the house in 2017 when they said the quarry was full of water and not in operation. 

“We struggle to understand how Laois County Council have granted permission to this Quarry to operate and for blasting to occur within 175m of a family home,” the couple stated in documents lodged with An Bord Pleanala

“We have raised our concerns with Laois County Council regarding the structural damage blasting within such close proximity will inevitably cause to our home. Laois County Council have failed to consider this in their planning conditions. There has been no consideration given for the structure of our home, by either the council or the Breedon/lagan group, other than our property is 'under a hill',” the couple stated. 

The couple say they are “immeasurably concerned” about the impact of the quarry operations and explosive blasting will have on their mental and physical health and that of their children. 

“We strongly feel that the granting of permission to this Quarry in such close proximity to our family home, is in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which provides a right to respect for one's private and family life. In fact, Section 9 of this article, highlights how we have the right for our private life not to be impacted by environmental issues, which Quarrying falls under… that could easily lead to death or serious injury,” they said. 

Another homeowner who lives 700 metres from the quarry expressed concern about the impact of blasting on the structure of his home. He said the property was built in 1979 and there were no issues until blasting was carried out at the quarry by the previous operator and cracks began to appear in the house. He also raised concerns about potential impact on the water supply and his horses. 

A couple who have two properties within 500 metres of the site also expressed concerns about blasting at the quarry. They stated that floor tiles had been cracked and water was discoloured after blasting by the previous operator. They were also concerned about the impact the quarry would have on Peregrine falcons in the area.

In its decision, An Bord Pleanala said the development would be in accordance with the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027 if granted subject to a number of conditions. 

There were 16 conditions imposed by An Bord Pleanala. They include set operating times between 7am and 6pm Monday to  Friday and from 7am to 2pm on Saturday. No operation is allowed on Sunday. Blasting is only permitted between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday. 

The operator is also required to implement ongoing mitigation and monitoring measures as set out in the Natura Impact Statement. Haulage routes are to be kept to regional roads and national secondary roads as set out in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Shortcuts using the local road network will be prohibited.  The developer is required to make financial contributions towards infrastructure and facilities in the area. 

An Bord Pleanala approved the plans on July 1.