Bellurgan Point Coastal Protection Works

COMHAIRLE CONTAE LÚ

LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL

NOTICE OF PLANNING APPLICATION TO AN BORD PLEANÁLA FOR  APPROVAL OF COASTAL PROTECTION WORKS

Pursuant to Section 177AE(4)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the requirements of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), Louth County Council hereby publishes this notice of its intention to carry out coastal protection works at three locations on the Cooley Peninsula, namely:

• Drummullagh, Omeath, Co. Louth,
• Bellurgan Point, Dundalk, Co. Louth, and
• Ballynamony (Murphy)/Ballagan, Greenore Co. Louth.

Drummullagh, Omeath – Coastal Protection Works

The proposed works are located on the shoreline of Carlingford Lough, north of Omeath village, within the townland of Drummullagh. The proposed works involve the following:

• Removal and temporary storage of existing rock armour over the works footprint (40m long x 3m wide),
• Excavation of a trench approximately 3m wide x 1m deep over the works footprint and temporary storage of excavated material,
• Installation of a concrete footing approximately 1m wide x 0.6m deep for a length of 40m on the seaward side of a boundary wall,
• Placement of a layer of geotextile membrane within the excavated trench, and
• Placement of rock armour within and above the excavation to form a coastal defence barrier.

Bellurgan Point, Dundalk – Coastal Protection Works

The proposed works location is on the eastern side of the quay at Bellurgan Point, Dundalk Bay. The proposed works involve the following:

• Site preparation including construction of proposed temporary access ramps and haul roads,
• Excavation of 1m deep trench at two locations over a total length of approximately 75m,
• Placement of a layer of geotextile membrane within the trench,
• Placement of rock armour within and above the excavations to form coastal defence barriers,
• Patch repairs (over an area of approximately 100sq.m) to existing coastal defences using existing and imported stone, and
• Removal of temporary haul road and access ramps.

Ballynamony (Murphy)/Ballagan, Greenore – Coastal Protection Works

The proposed works location is on the shoreline of Carlingford Lough and staddles the townlands of Ballynamony (Murphy) and Ballagan on the eastern edge of the Cooley Peninsula. The proposed works involve the following:

• Re-pointing of stonework to existing sea wall,
• Concrete crack repair to existing sea wall,
• Concrete infill to fill voids of the existing sea wall
• Concrete repairs to damaged sections of existing sea wall, and
• New rock armour protection to a section of the existing shoreline.

Louth County Council proposes to seek approval from An Bord Pleanála for the proposed works under Section 177AE(4)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended).

Natura Impact Statements (NIS) have been prepared in respect of the proposed works.

An Bord Pleanála may give approval to the application with or without conditions or may refuse the application.

Plans and particulars, including the Natura Impact Statements, completed for the three schemes are available for inspection free of charge at the following locations:

• The consultation portal of Louth County Council - https://consult.louthcoco.ie/
• County Hall, Millennium Centre, Marshes Lower, Dundalk, Co. Louth (A91 KFW6) between the hours of 9am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday from 17^th January 2024 to 1^st March 2024 inclusive of both dates (excluding Public Holidays), and
• Carlingford Library, Teac Cuirte, Newry St, Liberties Of Carlingford, Carlingford, Co. Louth (A91 N266) between the hours of 10am and 1pm and 2pm and 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and between the hours of 10am and 1pm on Saturday from 17^th January 2024 to 1^st March 2024 inclusive of both dates. (Note Carlingford Library is closed on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.)
• The offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 between the hours of 9:15am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays) from 17^th January 2024 to 1^st March 2024.  

Plans and particulars, including the Natura Impact Statements, will be available to purchase at County Hall at a cost of €20.00 per project. (Requested documents will be available for collection the following day).

Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed works may be made in writing to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 (D01 V902) before 5.30pm on 1^st March 2024 relating to:

(i)    The implications of the proposed works for proper planning and sustainable development in the areas concerned,

(ii)   The likely effects on the environment of the proposed works, and

(iii)   The likely significant effects of the proposed works on the European sites.

A person may question the validity of any such decision by the Board by way of an application for judicial review under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 15 of 1986) in accordance with Section 50 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

Practical information on the review mechanism can be accessed under the heading Publications – Judicial Review Notice on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie or on the Citizens information Service website www.citizensinformationship.ie