Bog rewetting rescheduled as Roscommon landowners seek environmental impact assessment
Exterior drains around the perimeter of the boglands are full of silt, as shown in this photo.
Bord na Móna’s plan to rewet hundreds of acres of bog in County Roscommon and the midlands from this Thursday have been rescheduled as local landowners are now seeking an environmental impact assessment.
The semi-state company is being urged to halt its plans to rewet boglands in Mount Dillon, Erenagh and 15 other midland sites until farmers’ flooding fears are addressed.
Dissatisfaction that proper consultation has not taken place was expressed by local farmers and landowners at a public meeting in Ballyleague yesterday evening, Tuesday.
There are fears that adjacent lands will flood this winter if exterior drains around the perimeter of the bogs, which are full of silt, are not cleaned out first.
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly explained that Tuesday's public meeting was a constructive one and noted that rewetting due to begin tomorrow, Thursday, will not now take place.
Following yesterday's meeting in Ballyleague, a letter is now being sent to Bord na Móna urging that no rewetting takes place until local concerns are addressed and an environmental impact assessment is carried out.
