JUDICIAL review proceedings have been instigated in the High Court by a number of concerned Thomondgate environmental groups and residents against the construction of 46 apartments on a brownfield site at New Road in Limerick City.
The main parties in the proceedings are St Munchin’s Umbrella Group, which includes several community and residents groups in the area, along with the Thomondgate Nature Park Project.
The challenge is being spearheaded by Pat Murphy, chair of the Thomondgate Park Project, who has campaigned for many years for a Biodiversity Nature Park at the proposed development site.
Campaigners say that the site is populated by natural flora and fauna and is a habitat for otters, bats and badgers.
According to Limerick solicitor and president of Environmental Trust Ireland, Michelle Hayes, acting for the applicants, the proposed development by Tinwat Holdings Ltd is on a flood plain which is prone to flooding and is heavily infested with Japanese knotweed.
“Past attempts to eradicate Japanese knotweed from the site have failed, yet it is proposed to build residential accommodation in this heavily infested site in a highly vulnerable flood zone,” Ms Hayes told the Limerick Post.
“It is not an appropriate site for development. No Environmental Impact Assessment Report nor Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out, although the development is situated on the banks of the majestic river Shannon, a special area of conservation which is very sensitive environmentally and a European protected site.
“The site is owned by Limerick City and County Council, whose efforts to control the Japanese knotweed infestation thus far have failed. The development would involve the excavation of over 5,000 tonnes of knotweed infested soil for removal to landfill, which is an environmentally unsustainable way of dealing with the problem,” the local solicitor hit out.
Ms Hayes went on to say that local residents of Thomondgate, New Road, and surrounding areas are very resilient and have empowered themselves to challenge the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant the development.
“Residents are very dissatisfied at how the Council disregarded their concerns and failed to consult with them prior to granting planning permission. The development is completely unsustainable,” Ms Hayes claimed.
The case is due back in court this week.
Limerick City and County Council said it does not comment on active cases.
