A decision by Mayo County Council on whether to grant planning permission to Enterprise Oil for a major gas terminal at Ballinaboy, Glenamoy has been put back for at least a month as company technical experts address the problem of how to dispose of half a million tonnes of liquid peat without damaging the environment.

Enterprise Oil has moved machinery and personnel to Glenamoy to test the hydrological behaviour of such a huge mass of water-saturated peat once it is disturbed and gains momentum.

Fears of major silting into waterways, including Carrowmore Lake, an important fishery and the source of Erris drinking water, have been raised by objectors and the council has sought clarification on this and other issues from the energy company.

A council spokesman says it looked for clarification on the peat removal and other issues on January 12th but has heard nothing since.

Ms Karen Cahill, spokeswoman for Enterprise Oil, says the firm is trying to address the issues raised and will be getting back to the authority "in the next couple of weeks".

Ms Cahill said the company was expecting to be in a position to award contracts for the project towards the end of this month but work would not start until planning permission had been received.

A council member, Mr Stephen Molloy (FF) said the company might decide to look elsewhere for a gas terminal site should the delay in getting planning permission be protracted.

"The overall project will cost £500 million," Mr Molloy said. "Erris cannot afford to lose the construction and other jobs which will be created.

"The possible loss of a gasfired generating station at Bellacorick also has to be taken into the equation."

Another Erris based councillor, Mr Gerry Coyle (FG), said: "We want jobs but not at any cost.

"We don't want local people to be tramped on by big business. Their fears must be allayed."