Planning permission granted for Mayo tar plant to replace gutted facility

AN asphalt plant in Castlebar wiped out by a devastating fire is to be replaced by a modern new facility with a 34-metre high stack to dissipate emissions.

The old asphalt plant and storage bays at the Roadstone quarry, Moneen, was destroyed by a fire last week which sent a large plume of black smoke billowing over the easterly edge of the county town.

Roadstone Limited, whose headquarters is located at Dundrum, Dublin, have been planning for some time to have the old asphalt plant decommissioned and moved to another location on their extensive site at Moneen where quarry operations have been conducted for decades.

Confirmation that planning permission for the proposals has been granted were confirmed by Mayo County Council's planning office.

The planning sanction, however, is subject to 23 conditions.

One of the conditions is that the noise levels associated with day to day quarrying and the operation of the asphalt plant, when measured from any house in the vicinity of the quarry, will not exceed stipulated levels.

Also, blasting operations will be limited to no more than six a month, or as agreed in writing with Mayo County Council, and shall be confined to between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.