Villagers fear explosives plant would ruin tourism

Plans to build a £5 million explosives factory on the Shannon estuary are facing increasing opposition from residents in the Co Clare village of Kildysart, who fear the proposal will freeze development in the area.

Shannon Explosives Ltd is seeking to build facilities for the manufacture, storage, distribution and export of explosive materials at Cahercon, Kildysart. The only other similar facility in the State is in Enfield, Co Meath.

The company has obtained a draft licence for the proposal from the Department of Justice. A Department official met Clare County Council yesterday to discuss the application ahead of an expected council decision next week.

However, in the past 14 days two public meetings, each attended by more than 400 people, have discussed the plan. According to the chairman of the Kildysart Explosives Factory Opposition Group, Mr Terence Corry, "There is now 90 per cent opposition to the plan in the area".

Mr Corry said much of the fear stemmed from the fact that information was being withheld from them by the Department of Justice and Clare County Council.

This information concerns a buffer zone to be imposed around the facility, which is to employ 20 people, as part of the draft licence.

The Department of Justice has informed the council of the size and nature of the zone. However, it has told the council not to make information public because of the "sensitive material that deals with issues of security" relating to the plant.

Mr Corry said yesterday: "We are operating in a vacuum when we do not know the extent of the zone. We must be entitled to inspect the information. Any activity including planned development in the zone will be frozen, and that could sound the death knell for the community."

He said the proposal could seriously undermine the tourist potential of the area, negatively affect the image of Kildysart and place unnecessary risk due to possible explosive-related accidents in the area.

He said: "When all the information is not available, we are entitled to our worst fears."

Community opposition to the plant is supported by Mr Brendan Daly TD, who has arranged a meeting between members of the group and the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, to express their concern.

Mr Daly said yesterday: "There should not be industrial activity in an area where there is great potential for tourism and leisure-related activities."

However, the managing director of Shannon Explosives, Mr Bob Morhard, said yesterday: "We'll build the facility."

He said: "The fears that are surrounding the proposal are unfounded. There has been a tremendous amount of misinformation about the project."

Concerning the buffer zone, the company points out only one house is within the boundary, and purchase negotiations are under way with the occupant. It says other adjacent lands, including the existing pier, can continue to be used for agricultural, leisure, boating or fishing activities.