HomeMy WebLinkAbout2660018 - Submission - Pauline & Roisin Carney27 FEB 2026
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Pauline Carney & Roisin Carney,
Drumcall,
Drum,
Co.Monaghan.
RE. Planning application 2660018 for the development of a Biogas Plant on lands in the townlands of
Maghernakelly, Drumcall and Drumgole in County Monaghan
We wish to formally object to the proposed development described above.
We live just 640 meters from the proposed site in the townland of Drumcall.
We wish to state at the outset that we recognise the importance of renewable energy infrastructure, including
biogas facilities, and we support the principle of sustainable and low -carbon energy development in
appropriate locations. However, our objection relates specifically to the proposed siting of this development,
which we consider to be inappropriate due to its proximity to existing residential properties and the resulting
impacts on residential amenity, traffic safety, and environmental conditions, as set out below.
1. Visual Impact, Drumlin Landscape and Inappropriate Siting
Our dwelling is located approximately 640 metres from the proposed development site and is situated at a
higher elevation. Due to this elevated position, the proposed biogas plant would be clearly visible from our
property, resulting in a significant and direct visual impact.
The proposed development is located on a drumlin landform, which is a distinctive and characteristic feature
of the local landscape. The application proposes significant excavation and alteration of this drumlin in order
to accommodate the development. This level of landform modification would fundamentally alter the natural
topography of the area and would result in a permanent and irreversible impact on the landscape character.
Given the elevated nature of our property and the prominence of the drumlin within the surrounding
landscape, we do not consider that the proposed landscaping or tree planting measures would adequately
mitigate the visual impact of the development. Such measures would take many years to mature, if they are
effective at all, and would not address the substantial excavation and re -profiling of the landform proposed.
The industrial scale and nature of the development, combined with the removal and alteration of a drumlin
landform, would result in an adverse impact on the visual and residential amenity of nearby dwellings and
would detract from the rural character of the area.
2. Traffic Generation and Road Safety Concerns (L2280)
Point 1: The proposed main entrance to the development is located on the L2280 local road. The proposed
biogas plant would result in a significant increase in traffic volumes on this road, with regular HGV and
lorry movements accessing the site several times per hour.
• The L2280 is a narrow rural road, typical of the local road network in the area, and was not designed to
accommodate frequent heavy goods vehicle traffic. There are no footpaths or dedicated pedestrian facilities,
and the road is regularly used by pedestrians and walkers due to the rural nature of the area. The increased
frequency of large vehicles would therefore give rise to serious road safety concerns for vulnerable road
users.
Of particular concern is the proximity of the Blackkesh crossroads, where a school bus regularly stops to
collect and drop off children. The introduction of frequent HGV movements associated with the proposed
development on the L2280 would significantly increase the risk to road safety at this junction, particularly
during peak school and commuter periods.
In our view, the level and intensity of traffic generated by the proposed development is inappropriate for the
L2280 and the surrounding local road network and would result in unacceptable traffic and road safety
impacts.
Point 2: We also wish to highlight that the R188 was recently closed due to flooding, resulting in traffic
being diverted onto the L2280. During that period, the L2280 was required to accommodate significantly
increased traffic volumes and was demonstrably unfit for sustained two-way traffic flow. The verges of the
road were damaged and deteriorated as a result of vehicles attempting to pass one another.
This recent event clearly illustrates the limited capacity and structural vulnerability of the L2280. In
circumstances where future flooding events may again require diversion of traffic from the R188, the
addition of frequent heavy goods vehicle movements associated with the proposed biogas plant would
exacerbate congestion, road surface damage, verge erosion, and road safety risks.
Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and flooding, it is not unreasonable to anticipate
similar diversions in the future. The cumulative impact of diverted traffic together with regular HGV
movements to and from the proposed development raises serious concerns regarding the suitability of the
L2280 to accommodate this level of traffic safely and sustainably.
3. Artificial Lighting, Light Pollution and Impact on Rural Amenity
The proposed development would involve the operation of a biogas plant on a 24 -hour basis, with
continuous artificial lighting required throughout day and night. The introduction of permanent, industrial -
scale lighting in this rural location would give rise to significant light pollution, which is entirely out of
keeping with the existing low -light rural environment.
As mentioned previously, our dwelling is situated at a higher elevation relative to the proposed site. As a
result, the development would be fully visible from our property, and the proposed lighting would be
experienced as a constant and intrusive light source. This would include direct glare from lighting fixtures
and broader sky glow effects, which would be particularly noticeable during hours of darkness.
We are not satisfied that the application demonstrates how light spill, glare, and sky glow would be
adequately mitigated, particularly given the elevated topography and the lack of meaningful natural or built
screening. The proposed lighting would therefore result in an unacceptable adverse impact on residential
amenity and would erode the rural character and dark -sky environment of the area.
4. Odour Emissions and Impact on Residential Amenity
The proposed development would involve the handling and processing of animal manure and other organic
materials, which are widely recognised as potential sources of odour. Odour emissions from biogas facilities
are a known environmental issue and have given rise to complaints at other operational sites, as evidenced
through correspondence and public reporting from residents living in proximity to similar developments.
We are concerned that the application does not provide sufficient written confirmation or robust evidence to
demonstrate that odour emissions from the proposed development can be fully prevented. While the
application refers to the monitoring and management of odour, monitoring alone does not eliminate odour
emissions and does not provide assurance that residential amenity will be adequately protected.
Given the presence of a number of existing residential properties in the vicinity of the site, including our
own, the potential for persistent or intermittent odour raises serious concerns regarding the acceptability of
this development at this location. Odour impacts can be particularly intrusive in rural residential settings,
where background odour levels are typically low.
In the absence of clear, enforceable, and guaranteed mitigation measures to prevent odour emissions, we
consider the proposed siting of this biogas plant to be inappropriate and likely to result in an unacceptable
adverse impact on residential amenity.
In conclusion, while we support the principle of renewable energy infrastructure such as biogas facilities, we
consider the proposed development at this location to be inappropriate. The combined impacts of the
development — including significant visual intrusion due to the elevated siting on a drumlin, substantial
traffic generation on the narrow L2280 with associated road safety risks, continuous artificial lighting, and
potential odour emissions affecting nearby residential properties — would result in unacceptable adverse
impacts on residential amenity, landscape character, and the rural environment.
For the reasons outlined above, we respectfully request that the planning authority carefully consider these
matters and refuse the application.
We thank the planning authority for the opportunity to make this submission.
Pauline Carney & Roisin Carney