Council refuses extension to quarry’s operational life

Roscommon County Council has refused permission to extend the operational life of a quarry in South Roscommon.

Roadstone Limited was seeking permission from the council to extend its use of the Cam Quarry, at Curry & Cloonacaltry, Brideswell, for a further period of 25 years.

A 20-year planning grant had previously been approved, which is due to expire on October 3rd of this year.

The decision was made on two counts last week, with the council citing concerns over environmental issues and dewatering, which is the process of removing accumulated rainwater and unwanted groundwater.

“The planning authority, in consultation with Roscommon County Council’s Environment Department, is not satisfied, based on submissions received, that it has been satisfactorily evidenced that dewatering will not be required to facilitate the proposed development and that satisfactory proposals for and assessment of dewatering arrangements have been provided,” it said.

It felt that based on the information submitted “a sufficient level of information and assessment has not been provided in relation to impacts on water and biodiversity (with particular attention to Habitats and Birds Directives)”.

The council deemed that there was “insufficient information and insufficient mitigation measures provided” for it to make a determination that there “is an acceptably low likelihood of environmental effects of a magnitude which would give rise to a significant effect on sensitive environmental receptors”.

The council added that the site of the proposed development is potentially hydrologically connected to seven designated European sites for rare and threatened flora and fauna, which are protected under the EU Habitats Directive. These are the Lough Croan Turlough SAC, Castlesampson Esker SAC, Four Roads Turlough, Lisduff Turlough, Lough Croan Turlough SPA, River Suck Callows SPA and Four Roads Turlough.

It said that in “the absence of detailed evidence to substantiate that dewatering is not required to facilitate the proposed development” and the concerns identified about “the robustness of the mitigation measures proposed”, “adverse effects on the integrity and conservation objectives of the European sites in the vicinity, cannot be ruled out, as a result of the proposed project”.

Roadstone made the planning application in December of last year, and in February 2026, the council sought further information from the applicant. It asked the company for more information on dust emissions, noise and other aspects of the development. It also said it has serious concerns regarding the proposal to discharge water from the site and the potential impact this may have on flooding, the hydrological regime in the area, and water quality.

Serious concern was expressed by a number of local people over the planning application, citing worries about possible health and environmental impacts as well as traffic congestion.

Further information from the company was received on June 23rd. Among its responses, the company said it would continue to implement dust mitigation measures at the site, with a series of additional measures also recommended.

The residents who made submissions against the development said they were ecstatic with the refusal, adding that they were confident that the council would make the correct decision on the application.