Residents query leachate treatment

Three residents who successfully secured a High Court order closing a controversial landfill site near Lough Corrib almost four years ago have brought new court proceedings related to their concerns about the treatment of leachate from the site.

Mr Desmond Rooney, a company director, and Ms Kathleen Curley and Ms Ann Coady, both described as housewives, are challenging the dismissal by An Bord Pleanála of their appeal against a decision by Galway County Council to grant planning permission for a leachate lagoon and ancillary works at Carrowbrowne, Co Galway, for the treatment of leachate from the Carrowbrowne landfill.

In judicial review proceedings before Mr Justice Ó Caoimh, they are seeking a number of orders and declarations, including orders quashing the grant of permission for the works and remitting their appeal to An Bord Pleanála for determination in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 to 1999.

The action is against the board and Galway County Council. It is claimed the planning application for the works in question relates to a development for which an Environmental Impact Statement should have been prepared and for which an Environmental Impact Assessment should be carried out.

In March last year Mr Justice Kelly upheld complaints by residents that the corporation had failed to carry out restorative works in accordance with court orders and had also recommenced dumping on the site.