Unlicensed quarry operators to face courts

High Court proceedings are being initiated by Offaly County Council against a number of unlicensed quarry operations working at the base of the Slieve Bloom mountains near Aghancon.

The unlicensed quarries have angered residents who claim the local roads are not suitable for 18-wheel trucks which are used to transport the stone.

They have complained to the county council about the noise, safety and nuisance caused.

One resident complained to the county council about the night-time operation of a new factory, for which the council has been unable to trace a planning permission.

One resident, Mr Demery, and a number of his neighbours in the valley are angry that the situation has been allowed to develop without the intervention of the county council.

"The operators should have to have planning permission like the rest of us," said Mr Demery who was supported by a number of other locals who asked not to be named.

"People are genuinely quite frightened of the lorries but realise there are jobs in the business so they are reluctant to speak, but they don't want their health and safety to be put at risk. The organisation with responsibility here is the county council and it must ensure everyone is treated equally," he said.

The locals have been supported by Mr Ian Lumley of An Taisce, who says the quarrying operations in the Slieve Bloom mountains are but one aspect of a Statewide problem caused by the boom in the construction industry.

He claims environmental damage is being caused on a large scale at sites in Clonmacnoise, Roscommon and across the midlands as contractors attempt to keep pace with demand for stone and land on which to dump rubble.

But for Mr Demery the problem is more local. "This is a very picturesque part of the world, it is near the Slieve Bloom environmental park, in a valley and the road network in the area is old and narrow.

"Since three or four quarries started up in the last few years we have had to deal with heavy articulated trucks coming round these bends and the roads have been pounded on a daily basis. They are now in a very bad condition.

"There are ancient granite bridges and stone walls around here and we are afraid that they will be damaged beyond repair. There is also the issue of archaeological interest. Is there an archaeological survey being done as you would expect in an area like this, not far from a ring fort?" he asked.

Last month Offaly County Council confirmed by letter that it had asked solicitors to institute proceedings against the operators, and this week a spokeswoman confirmed that these were under way. "Offaly County Council takes the issue of unauthorised quarrying very seriously and recently secured an order in the courts for the closure of such an operation in the Edenderry area," she said.