Roadstone and residents clash again as refusal of Tipperary biogas plant is appealed
The refusal of planning permission for a biogas plant in Tipperary has been appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Roadstone Limited applied for permission to add a biogas plant to their quarry at Killough, in Holycross, near Thurles.
The plans involve a 6.3-hectare bio-renewables facility incorporating an anaerobic digester to convert animal feed into biomethane gas.
The council refused permission, saying insufficient information had been provided about road safety and the development’s potential environmental risks.
"The planning authority is not satisfied that an adequate level of information has been provided on which to make an informed assessment on the risks of the development to the environment and its impact on surrounding land use,” the council said.
Planners also raised concerns about sightlines for road users at the proposed entrance to the facility, warning that granting permission could endanger road safety.
"The planning authority is not satisfied that the works proposed to achieve the required sightlines can be undertaken notwithstanding the details submitted.”
Now, both Roadstone and Killough Community Group have appealed that decision to the planning appeals body.
In their appeal, Roadstone said that issues with the sightlines could be rectified by relocating a stop line on the road, as well as adding a hatched marking on the road, which they say, would allow them to improve sightlines without interfering in the neighbouring land.
"The applicant notes this is an established access, which has served the existing development for many years, and is not aware of any historical collisions, safety concerns, or evidence that would give rise to a traffic hazard or risk to public safety,” an agent acting on behalf of Roadstone said.
The agent also said that no alternative site would be suitable for the biogas plant, because it is specific to the Killough Quarry site.
"This proposed plant is specific to the Killough Quarry location as its purpose is to provide a clean and renewable energy supply to the quarry site,” they said.
"The quarry at Killough is the only available site to the applicant within the administrative area of Tipperary County that would justify locating a bio-renewables facility to meet the energy demands of the site,” they added.
The appeal also noted that Roadstone planned to co-locate bio-renewables plants at five of their large quarries nationwide, and that the biogas plant is a key element of the company being able to reach their target of having net-zero emissions by 2050.
Killough Community Group submitted an appeal supporting the decision to refuse planning permission by the local authority, but added that the refusal omitted a major reason why the plant shouldn’t go ahead.
The group said that the development would not comply with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015.
"The Tipperary County Council Climate Action Plan requires that developments demonstrate consistency with local decarbonisation targets. The [environmental report] provides no demonstration of alignment with local targets and fails to address the County Development Plan’s low-carbon objectives,” they said.
“The alternatives analysis does not meaningfully examine the Lisheen Bioeconomy Campus, which is expressly identified at regional and national level as the appropriate site for bioeconomy development,” the group added.
The group also raised concerns about road safety, noise, dust and air quality, and the use of explosives on site, which the appeal says is causing “home cracking and structural damage”.
Other concerns raised include ground water quality, biodiversity, and failures to engage properly with the local community.
An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected to decide on the appeal by July 8.