Roadstone secure permission for deepening parts of quarry

Roadstone secure permission for deepening parts of quarry

By Aideen O'Flaherty

ROADSTONE has secured planning permission for the deepening of part of their Belgard quarry, despite the plans attracting five submissions.

The application for planning permission was submitted by Roadstone last January, where they outlined their plans for the deepening of part (circa 43 hectares) of the existing and permitted quarry to a quarry floor level of -10mOD using conventional blasting techniques.

ECHO Extra 2 of 4 Photo Ben Ryan 1

Roadstone Belgard quarry secured planning for the deepening of part of the site

Permission was also sought for the use of a mobile processing plant, product stockpiles, a final restoration scheme and all ancillary works within a planning application area of 49.4ha and within the overall landholding of 241.6 hectares.

The plans attracted five submissions, including an objection from the Kingswood Heights Residents’ Association where they cited concerns about dust pollution and noise pollution.

Silken Park residents also lodged an objection with a number of concerns, including “prolonged and increased noise and vibration nuisance” to residents as a result of the blasting, and they included a link to a petition against the plans which had attracted over 100 signatures.

Local independent councillors Francis Timmons and Liam Sinclair made representations on the plans supporting the Silken Park residents’ objection, while local resident Breda Maher lodged a submission querying whether the plans should be treated similarly to a Strategic Infrastructure Development.

South Dublin County Council granted permission to Roadstone on March 23, with a number of conditions.

The conditions include the stipulation that Roadstone will, within five years of the final grant of this permission, lodge a comprehensive Restoration Plan for the restoration of the entire quarry site following the cessation of quarrying works.

They are required to implement dust escape and suppression measures, while in terms of ground borne vibration, Peak Particle Velocity shall not exceed 12 mm/s where blasting occurs once a week, or 8mm/s where blasting occurs more frequently.

Blasting at the site has been a contentious issue for several years, with nearby residents voicing concerns about the impact of the blasting at the quarry – the existence of which predates several surrounding residential developments that were built in later years.

As reported in The Echo last February, 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.

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.

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.”

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