| Leaflets distributed as protest gathers momentum | Date: 9th June 2003 | Dara O'Neil |
An application for planning permission has been lodged with Wicklow county council for the development and operation of a 50 acre quarry in the popular recreational area of Brittas Bay.
The enormous amount of dust, high noise levels and large daily volume of earth-moving vehicles from this facility will destroy the quiet and clean holiday resort of Brittas Bay forever. Brittas Bay is already suffering badly with the downturn in international tourism and the recent loss of its 'Blue Flag' status.
This quarry could affect anyone living within a 5 miles radius.
Do you want this to happen?
We need your help to stop this NOW!
Please send your objections in writing to:-
The Planning Office
Wicklow County Council
County Buildings
Wicklow Town
before 16th June 2003, enclosing a fee of €20 to lodge the objection.
Please quote Reference No. 03/8657 on your letter.
Brittas bay Protection Group will be holding a meeting on Monday 9th June 2003 at The Old Schoolhouse, Brittas Bay, at 8:30pm (20:30).
For further information please contact Dara O'Neil on 087-285 9614.
Don't let them destroy our environment - join our Protection Group on Monday.
According to the Health & Safety Authority, the death toll from the quarrying sector in Ireland, peaked at 5 in 2001 due to lack of adequate safety procedures. www.hsa.ie/press/press02/september/athlone
Quarries can cause groundwater pollution, landslides, and contaminate storm water run-off - which can easily spread contamination to other areas and lead to soil erosion.
Large heavy earth-moving equipment such as excavator's dump trucks and front-end loaders make narrow roads extremely dangerous. These heavy vehicles also do serious damage to road surfaces resulting in potholes and accumulations of muck and dust.
The dust from quarries can contain a mixture of siliceous sand particles and calcium carbonate particles from the cement.
Quarries can harbour undetectable and lethal concentrations of deadly gases such as methane, radon, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide.
Freshly-cut rock is extremely pernicious. Even a few incidents of inhalation of such dust can cause lung irritation and start the process of increasingly serious lung damage.
The microscopic particles are like millions of razor-edged shards that damage the lung tissue directly, as well as create conditions promoting the development of silicosis, TB, microblasts, fibrosis and cancer.
Rock blasting can damage house structures.
Dust from quarries can travel over 5 miles coating crops and other vegetation, livestock, windows and cars.
Whilst quarries may look like a large playground to children, they can prove lethal to the innocent. Quarries are very dangerous places to explore and many deaths have been caused by quarry accidents. Children have been injured or buried alive whilst playing in quarries. Water-filled quarries and pits can hide rock ledges, old machinery, and other unseen hazards.
Unused and misfired explosives can become unstable and deadly. Vibrations from a touch or football can trigger an explosion.
Excavated vertical cliffs can become unstable and prone to collapse and bury someone alive.
People who have worked in quarries are known to have died at an early age from pulmonary fibrosis.
FACT: The Ballinaclea Road measures approx. 15 - 16 feet wide
Therefore dump trucks traveling on our roads would leave no room for pedestrians/cyclists/family cars and so will result in accidents and deaths!
Brittas Bay is a designated high amenity and residential area. Local families are often refused planning permission to improve existing dwellings/surrounding areas and have often been refused for this reason, therefore it is not logical that permission be granted for a quarry which would only have a serious, negative and hazardous impact.
The dust from this facility is also likely to affect the hundreds of people who visit Brittas bay Beach, one of the most popular and attractive beaches in Ireland. The volume of heavy trucks will make it extremely dangerous for people visiting the area and there is no doubt tourism will be affected.
Web sites from which these facts are taken:-
Death Toll in Quarries http://www. hsa.ie/press/press02/september/athlone
Mines & Quarries Act, 1995 http://193.120.124.98/zza7y1965.shtml
Accidents Claim Lives http://www.clarechampion.ie/02/feb/cc20020208/ge-a3.shtml
Green Party Objections to Quarrying http://greenparty.ennis.ie/abourmeaney/pr-26jan00.html
The Dangers Of Quarrying http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchestStar010111/Area_accidents.asp
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