Tipperary biogas plant rejected over safety and environmental concerns
Plans for a biogas plant at a quarry in rural Co Tipperary have been refused by the county council.
Roadstone Limited applied for permission to add a biogas plant to their quarry at Killough, in Holycross, near Thurles.
The plans would see a bio-renewables facility built on a 6.3 hectare site, which would incorporate an anaerobic digester to convert animal feed into biomethane gas.
Plans were lodged with Tipperary County Council last January, with the local authority seeking further information from Roadstone before they were able to make a decision.
In refusing permission, the council said it was not satisfied that sufficient information had been provided regarding road safety or the potential environmental risks of the development.
"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.
"In the absence of such information the proposed development is therefore considered contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” planners added.
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.
"Having regard to the foregoing it is considered that the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard or obstruction to road users” they said.
Plans for the biogas facility had been met with objections from residents, as well as the Killough Biogas Concern Group.
In a previous interview with the Irish Independent, Pat Shanahan of the Killough Biogas Concern Group said that the proposed biogas plant would be co-located on an active quarry where explosives are used, which raises concerns for locals living in the area about the potential for an explosion.
“Around 10 or 15 tonnes of explosives have been detonated in the quarry over the last 20 years, and our point now is that with a biogas plant, there’s potential there for an explosion. There was an explosion in the UK, there’s been a few around the world,” he explained.
"We’re also worried that if there’s an accidental spill, there’s no containment for it.
"Our issue isn’t with the technology of the biogas plant, but purely we’re concerned, is this the correct site?” he added.
Since the confirmation that Tipperary County Council moved to refuse permission for the development, the group said the decision was a win.
"This outcome reflects the importance of proper planning, public safety, and environmental protection, particularly in a rural area with a school, homes, vulnerable water resources, and constrained local roads.
"This is a win for the communities in rural Ireland. We need to keep standing together and supporting each other,” they said.
Roadstone Ltd now has four weeks to appeal the council’s decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.