Planning terms at bog slide site questioned

Derrybrien residents have called for an investigation into the terms of the planning permission given to Hibernian Wind Power for its wind farm in south Galway.

However, the company has stressed that it has adhered to all planning permission conditions.

The area experienced a major bog slide last week, the second in a fortnight. It is believed that up to 100,000 fish have been killed by the pollution of the Owendalulleegh River caused by the incident.

Peat and debris flowed into the river after heavy rain precipitated the bog slide.

Local residents have blamed the construction work on the wind farm for the landslide but Hibernian Wind Power said the cause could only be established once its investigations were complete.

Yesterday Mr Martin Collins, spokesman for Derrybrien Landslide Action Group, said the group had been studying the terms of the planning permission awarded for the site and believed it should be investigated.

"There are major questions over the planning permission and changes made to the planning permission and we fully intend to get to the bottom of it," he said.

However, Mr Michael Kelly, spokesman for Hibernian Wind Power, an ESB subsidiary, said all work on the site fully complied with planning regulations.

Residents have asked if the developers had received permission to open a number of quarries on the site. Mr Kelly said the company had permission for "borrow-pits" on the site. Borrow-pits differ from quarries in that stone obtained on site is used for work on the site. Quarrying involves the removal of the material for sale elsewhere.

He said two dams had now been built at the site to contain the bog slide and a third dam was being constructed. The company was pleased with the progress made.

The residents have expressed fears that the landslide could begin again after a heavy downpour. Mr Collins said the mass of bog that had slid down the mountainside was "a very tiny percentage" of the total amount on the mountain and asked if there were any long-term plans to contain it. Hibernian Wind Power said it was too soon to say if the dams were a permanent solution.