Waterford County Council has been urged to reverse a decision to sanction cliff repairs at Dunmore East, which conservationists believe could destroy a rare colony of kittiwake seagulls.
The local authority granted planning permission for the stabilising of two cliff faces following an application by the Department of the Marine and Nature Resources, which was acting upon recent reports of a rock fall in the area.
But environmentalists believe the works have been planned with undue haste, and that they fail to take account of the area's rare cliff habitat.
Mr David Sutton, a retired engineer who acts as conservation consultant to the local residents' association, said it was "very possible" that this would be the last nesting year for the kittiwakes at Dunmore East.
"The original nests are going to be scraped away and all the vegetation on the cliff will be reduced to virgin surface. That's going to have a huge impact on the habitat."
An order granting permission was signed by the council two weeks ago. Under the plan, cement will be laid on the cliff-faces at Dock Road and Island Lane to prevent rock falls on to an access road to the harbour below them. Ledges are to be built at various intervals for birds to nest upon.
However, said Mr Sutton, these were "purely experimental" and not in line with best practice in Britain, where several artificial nesting sites had proven successful.
Mr Sutton accused the council of failing to give five weeks' notice of the proposed development as required under planning law. Such "fast-tracking", he said, meant locals had insufficient time to lodge objections, and because of this they were unable to appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Mr Sutton added that the heritage service, Dúchas, was not advised of the development.
A spokesman for the council said the planning application was first lodged in May 2001. Further information was requested, including an independent ecological assessment which was submitted at the beginning of this month. The spokesman added that the planning decision was appealable.
A spokeswoman for the Department said the decision to seek permission for the works was based on public safety concerns and the fact that a roadway was in danger.
But Mr Sutton said there had never been a rock fall from the top of the cliffs, where the birds nested.
