Alleged damage to property from blasting is a ‘civil matter’
By Aideen O'Flaherty
SOUTH Dublin County Council has advised that alleged damage to residential properties from the operation of commercial activities “are a civil matter”, when asked about alleged damage to houses near Roadstone’s Belgard quarry.
As previously reported in The Echo, a resident near the quarry claimed that the routine blasting that is carried out has worsened in recent months, causing the windows and mirrors in his house to shake.
The quarry at Roadstone
When the story went online, a number of commenters claimed that reverberations from the quarry blasts, which occur on Friday afternoons, could be felt further afield in Hazelgrove, Citywest, Kingswood, Brookview, Fettercairn and Ard Mor.
The issue was raised at Monday’s monthly meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee, when Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor asked the council’s CEO if he was “dealing with complaints from local residents claiming alleged damage to their homes from constant blasting at the Roadstone Quarry.”
The council advised that, “damage to residential properties from the operation of commercial activities are a civil matter.”
They also confirmed that they are in receipt of a planning application from Roadstone Ltd in relation to deeping of part (c. 43ha.) of the existing and permitted quarry to a quarry floor level of -10mOD using conventional blasting techniques.
A decision on Roadstone’s planning application is due from South Dublin County Council this month.
A spokesperson for Roadstone previously told The Echo: “Roadstone has a longstanding and very positive relationship with residents and the local community in the area near our quarry at Belgard.
“The blasting of rock at the quarry is conducted in line with international best practice guidelines and is subjected to rigorous regulatory monitoring requirements.”
By subscribing to The Echo you are supporting your local newspaper Click Here: Echo Online.
