Quarry plans turned down in Falcarragh 

Permission has been refused for a new quarry in the Falcarragh area.

An Bord Pleanála upheld an objection by the Cloughaneely Angling Association against the proposed development.

Moyle Plant Limited had sought permission for the extraction of rock and gravel through mechanical excavation for a period of 20 years.

They also sought permission for the construction of on-site settlement ponds, an on-site wheel wash and all associated site development works at Derryreel, Falcarragh.

Donegal County Council had granted conditional permission to the developer, but that decision was appealed by the Cloughaneely Angling Association to An Bord Pleanála.

The Board said the applicant failed to demonstrated that a proposed settlement pond would be of an appropriate size and design to ensure that silted surface water and any disturbed ground water run-off from the quarry would be capable of being handled satisfactorily - particularly during storms.

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The Board was also not satisfied that the proposed re-use of abandoned, unauthorised, existing settlement ponds would be capable of handling silted surface water run-off from the on-site access or that the silted water collection drainage system would be adequate to avert a pollution risk to an existing pond,

“As all of these ponds would discharge to the Derryreel Stream, the applicant has not established that its proposal would be consistent with maintaining, improving and enhancing the quality of surface water in this stream.”

As a result, the Board said it would be “premature” to grant permission.

The Board also noted that it was not satisfied that it had been adequately demonstrated that the proposal would not have a detrimental impact on the safety or operational efficiency of the N56.

In a lengthy submission to An Bord Pleanála, the Cloughaneely Angling Association has highlighted a series of potential issues.

“The Owenwee river is one of most significant tributaries of the Ray river and, because of its proximity to the estuary of the Ray at Drumnatinny beach, has been a valuable spawning habitat for sea trout with potential to contribute significantly to local sea trout populations,” the group said.

“However, due to regular and ongoing pollution and siltation from the quarrying works at Fanmore, the Owenwee is failing to fulfill this potential.

“The current application for the opening of a new quarry in the Owenwee catchment is, therefore, of major concern to Cloughaneely Angling Association.

“The huge investment of time, money and expertise by both state agencies and voluntary bodies as detailed above will be further put at risk if this development goes ahead."

The Cloughaneely Angling Association was established in the late 1940s.

The stated aims of the founders were to maintain and stock the Ray and Tullaghobegley rivers, to improve access for anglers and to combat poaching.

Since its foundation the Association has worked closely with a range of statutory bodies, in particular the Northern Regional Fisheries Board, now Inland Fisheries Ireland, to achieve its aims.

In 2009 CAA signed a formal agreement with Inland Fisheries Ireland for the joint management of the Ray and Tullaghobegley rivers. Since then both CAA and IF have worked to restore and improve the riverine habitat within the two catchments.