Troubled 20-year history between Lackagh and the council

The operation of the Coolough quarry in Galway has led to complaints from both residents and the local authority.

The Coolough quarry is among several owned by the Lackagh Group, one of the largest quarrying firms in Galway.

The Irish Concrete Federation, which Lackagh is a member of, describes the company as a "substantial player" in a highly competitive sector worth some €2 billion annually in national terms.

Galway City Council files show a controversial relationship between the quarry owners, residents and the local authority dating back over 20 years to 1984 when the then Galway Corporation invited tenders for supply of crushed stone to Corrib bridge approach roads.

When Jim Burke, director of Lackagh Rock Group, made inquiries in writing in March 1984 about the award of the contract to a competitor, he was informed by then Galway city manager Joe Gavin in a letter dated April 18th, 1984, that his firm (Lackagh) had "formed a price ring with a view to keeping prices high".

"The corporation subsequently took measures which broke this price ring with considerable financial savings," Mr Gavin said.

In July 1998, Galway City Council issued circuit court proceedings against Lackagh over unauthorised development at the Coolough/Ballindooley quarry. This followed a warning from the council in November 1997.

That warning notice came three years after an engineer's report for residents stated that exploitation of Ballindooley's limestone hills, then described as on a par with the Burren, would have significant and detrimental effects in relation to air pollution, noise, danger to pedestrians, disturbance of wildlife and archaeology.

The upshot of the court hearing in April 1999 was an agreement by Lackagh to seek planning permission for the unauthorised extension of the quarry - the original area being covered by the "pre-1963 clause", under which planning was not required.

Also in 1999, gardaí had initiated an investigation into allegations of damage to property in the area of Coolough/Ballindooley.

Planning for the Coolough extension was granted by Galway City Council in February 2000, and appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which gave permission with a series of 12 conditions.

Planning enforcement officers visited the quarry in February and March 2001 and April 2003 after complaints by residents relating to dust, road safety and night activity. In October 2003, the city council issued a warning letter over work at the quarry outside designated hours. This warning notice was reissued in December 2003 as the title of the company had changed.

There was no further inspection until October 2005, when an enforcement officer investigated claims that the company was not complying with blasting conditions. Separately, the city council's environment department visited the site and met residents of Coolough and Menlo.

The city council issued a warning letter to the company in December 2005 over the lack of a fence surrounding the site, as stipulated in the Bord Pleanála approval.

Another visit in March 2006 provided the basis for the issuing of an enforcement notice by the city council to the company, and a request for immediate submission of information on sewage and drainage arrangements and the depth of the quarry floor and its relationship to the water table.