One of the longest oral hearings on record by An Bord Pleanála into a planning appeal concluded yesterday after 22 days when the inquiry into the proposed development at Bellanaboy Bridge, North Mayo, of a gas terminal for the Corrib Field ended late last night.
The hearing first opened in February last and lasted for two weeks. It was re-convened last month by direction of An Bord Pleanála, which requested additional information on four aspects of the project be provided.
In a concluding statement to the hearing, the Managing Director of Enterprise Energy Ireland, Mr Andy Pyle, said the company had done everything in its power to respond to concerns of residents in relation to the proposed gas terminal. All questions and issues raised had been fully addressed by a team of approximately 30 internal and external experts.
"We believe that the additional work carried out in preparing for the hearing reaffirms the positive decision of Mayo County Council to grant planning permission for the proposed development. We also welcome the inclusion of the Corrib Field and associated pipeline as an integral element of national infrastructure in the Government's recently published National Spatial Strategy. I am confident that ABP have all the information necessary to give the development due consideration", he said.
Mr Micheál Ó Sheighin, representing local residents, thanked An Bord Pleanála for facilitating the parties to make their cases openly and honestly.
Mr Ó Sheighin commented the information supplied by EEI in good faith had not, however, answered the questions raised by the request of the board for further information. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) had also failed to provide reassurance.
"It is with regret that we note that the report to the hearing by the HSA has not allayed our fears but has rather increased them by the manifest uncertainty and changing standards shown. The project, as proposed, represents an intrusion whose main adverse effect locally is the imposition of a risk environment not in any way balanced by benefits to the local community or contributing to its sustainability. This potentially fine project is on a site that cannot tolerate its immensity nor the risks it poses".
In conclusion, Mr Ó Sheighin, issued a brief request. "We request that our expenses be paid. The people on whose behalf I speak have very limited means and have made enormous sacrifices to facilitate ABP in its task of reasonably assessing this project. Their concerns have already taken a high toll. They should not be so heavily penalised financially also", he said.