The troubled Quinn Group is once again under fire over the controversial gas fired power plant at Toomes near Louth Village following an major explosion at a similar plant in upstate New York which, according to the Argus, "was the scene of a massive explosion last Sunday which left 50 feared dead". In the event hundreds were injured but thankfully there were only five fatalities. According to an item in NewsTime, "There are so many unanswered questions: What led to this disaster? What were the contributing factors? Could anything have been done to prevent it?" (State Governor) Rell said. "These are the questions that we must answer now, not only for the sake of the victims and their families but to avoid tragedies like this in the future."

These same questions equally apply to the Toomes plant, which may be at even greater risk due to the enclosed hollow where it is located. Furthermore there are human dwellings and a national school within a few hundred metres of this plant. Given the farcical testimony from the Fire Chief at the oral hearing, who was unable to explain how he would deal with a fire on the site if an explosion damaged the 5000 litre fire water storage tank, and the complacent attitude of the HSA representative, all approvals for this plant should be suspended pending a safety review.

It is interesting to note that the Quinn Group indicated during the oral hearing that it had no plans for further developments in the area, and indeed the conditions imposed by ABP would appear to reflect the boards concerns in this area. No mention was made of a second plant, in this case an Open Cycle Gas Turbine plant mentioned by Mott McDonald on their web site:

"2007 MMP completed the feasibility studies, technical studies, Eirgrid application, the Environmental Impact assessment, tender documents and planning application for the Phase 1 450MW CCGT at Toomes in Louth. The Client was Quinn Energy.

2007 MMP completed the feasibility studies, technical studies, Eirgrid application, the Environmental Impact assessment and will soon submit the planning application for a 180MW OCGT also at Toomes in Louth. The Client is confidential."

Could it be that the second client is also Quinn, contrary to what was suggested at the oral hearing. In many other matters, notably its dealings with Anglo Irish Bank, Quinn has continued to refuse to fully disclose its exposure according to newspaper reports, to the extent that "Mr Tolan (CEO VHI) called for the full extent of Mr Quinn’s losses on Anglo to be disclosed, saying that they “should be in the public domain” as they were “relevant for people who buy their products”.

Planning Matters

We have had a number of significant planning decisions in recent months. The first was the decision by the Dundalk to refuse permission for several houses at Soldier's Point - reference 0910. This site has had an extended history and the council documents in its regard make instructive reading, especially the Planner's Report. The environmental study, carried out by a Fiona Doris (apparently a botonist) seems to have been particularly deficient.














Extract from planners report

The applicant has now appealed the councils decision to An Bord Planeala...

Another application that the council refused is of similar interest. In this case the proposal was to build a house on what remains of Ardee Bog, a pNHA (proposed Natural Heritage Area). The application, 09756, was refused for this reason, and also because it is in a flood plane, and is at odds with CDP zoning. It is interesting to reflect how times have changed - the council allowed a major infilling operation several years ago to facilitate a football pitch!



















The infilled football pitch is in the centre of the brown bog area.

While these decisions may be bad news for the developers concerned, they are good news for Louth's long-suffering environment!

Flooding in Dundalk

Following heavy rainfall in Dundalk last week there were several instances of flooding. The Argus reported "RECENT torrential rainfall led to calls for flood prevention measures to be put in place, at a meeting of Dundalk Town Council last night (Tuesday). Cllr Kevin Meenan asked that ' in light of recent flooding across various points in Dundalk, what precautions are put in place to try to prevent other major floods, such as cleaning of drains?" Councillors heard that recent flooding led to extensive inspections by council staff, and where cleaning of gullies was identified as a likely cause the gullies were cleaned and left working." Generally the flooding was believed to be partly caused by blocked drains in conjunction with heavy rain, as opposed to high tides, another common cause of flooding in the past in Dundalk. Met Eireann predicts that Ireland will see higher rainfall with the risk of more flooding in the future as a consequence of global warming.

Dundalk massively over-zoned with development land

According to a report to be published by the Ministry for Local Government and the Environment, Dundalk has zoned sufficient development land for 32,970 homes zoned enough to meet demand until 2073. According to a piece in the Irish Examiner, the report suggests "there were enough houses provided for in developing regions to satisfy the market until 2031."

According to a piece in the Irish Times, this report will result in a significant change of policy in regard to zoning:

"- End rezoning of land for commercial development without taking other factors into account
- Development plans to be aligned with regional planning guidelines, spatial strategy and population demand
- Ensure local authorities carry out immediate review of development plans.
- Planning system reform to coincide with financial measures to deal with effects of property bubble.
- Planning authorities will have to include “core strategy” in plans, placing them in context of national/regional policy"

Dundalk Selected for Entente Florale

According to the Argus Dundalk has been selected for the EU Entente Florale, a sort of European version of the Tity Towns. The assessment criteria for the Entente Florale are a little different though, with a much stronger emphasis on biodiversity and integrating wildlife with town life. Points are allocated as follows:
- Vegetation and Landscape 50%
- Environment 26%
- Tourism and Involvement 24%

For example in terms of landscape the judges consider: Integration into the landscape, green corridors, long term objectives, programs, plans/strategies. Quality and maintenance of natural and protected areas, and of rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and their banks.

In practice the judges were very interested in native species being planted and allowing grass verges to grow wild. The reason is because it is now widely recognised that concentrating on native species and allowing the grass and "weeds" to grow has a much bigger impact on overall biodiversity than non-native exotic species. This is because Irish invertebrates co-evolved with our native flora and so are much more productive, more invertebrates means more food and better cover for native birds and mammals. An Taisce recommends various shrub and tree species for hedge planting, and as for the native wild flowers and grasses, they Will likely colonise naturally!

Best of luck to the hardworking Dundalk team in the competition and we look forward to the assessment report!

Louth Biodiveristy Action Plan

There are just two days left to make submissions to the excellent Louth Biodiveristy Action Plan published on the LCC web site. To make submissions or just send an email supporting the plan, just email brenadn.mcsherry@louthcoco.ie.

The key points of the plan are laid out in the first few paragraphs:

"This plan represents an opportunity for Louth to lead the way in sustainable development and thereby create value across all sectors of society – enhancing the quality of life for communities and creating new business opportunities.

The actions under this plan can be placed under five main objectives:

1. To create a system for the protection of local biodiversity areas
2. To integrate biodiversity and Local Authority activities
3. To raise awareness and appreciation of Louth’s natural heritage across all sections of society
4. To gather information and enhance Louth’s biodiversity
5. To monitor the effectiveness of the Biodiversity Action Plan"

A particularly impressive feature of the is the proposal to create and protect Local Biodiversity Areas. These are areas that would fall under the threshold of current designations such as Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive, Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive and Natural Heritage Areas under the Wildlife Act.

Apart from providing a wealth of information about Louth's biodiversity, the plan also lists dozens of detailed practical actions to support and protect Louth's it.

Never Mind the Gondolas, Here’s the Flying Pine Martins!

A few years ago a Wicklow County Council meeting it was proposed to put a gondola on Blessington lake as a tourist attraction, to which County Councillor, Jim Miley, is reported to have asked who will feed the gondola? Irish public representatives are famously ignorant of Irish wildlife but this snafu was soundly beaten by recent comments by Westmeath County Councillor Newman as reported in the Westmeath Examiner of Saturday May 30th and in the Irish Times of June 18th. The Council was discussing the imposition of Special Protection Areas under the EU birds directive for the protection of birds at Glen Lough, Lough Kinale and Derragh Lough including Whooper Swan, Tufted duck, Teal, Wigeon and other species.

Councillor Newman was reported to have commented “that he had a "bellyful" these directives and with "interference" in the everyday life of good honest country people. "We are seeing species that have never been seen before in Ireland being introduced by these people," he said. "Look at the Pinemartin, the most nasty vicious bird that you have ever seen. They were never in Ireland but have been introduced," he said.”

Newman subsequently claimed that he had been misquoted and sent a letter of clarification to the Irish Times published June 20th, which includes the following statements: “I suggested that there have recently been seen in the Midlands ravens, eagles and pine martens, and that it's conceivable that all these had been introduced from other parts of this country by well-meaning environmentalists who should know better. In over 40 years in this area I had not once seen such creatures until very recently.”

Unfortunately we will be deprived of Mr Newmans expertise in Irish wildlife as he failed to get elected in the recent County Council elections.

The fact is that pine martins, a small, shy, nocturnal, cat-like mammal that lives in trees have existed in Ireland for at least 1000 years and was probably introduced by those well meaning environmentalists, the Vikings. Ravens have been here even longer and likely were among the first species to colonise Ireland after the ice age. And God know what the councillor meant in his reference to eagles, which have not been introduced to the midlands, not by well meaning environmentalists or by anyone else.