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A1 ROCK BLASTING NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED

Published: 15 April, 2009

A1 ROCK BLASTING NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED

Chairperson of Newry and Mourne Council A1 Road Liaison Committee Sinn Féin Councillor Pat mc Ginn has said that all rock blasting at the works of the major new road should be cancelled until after the views of the health and Safety Executive in relation to an incident last week that involved rock shrapnel from a blast landing close to peoples homes and hitting the car of a Council Official, are made known. The Councillor who immediately after the incident had called for an immediate rigorous investigation into the incident, confirmed that an officer from the Health and Safety Executive had visited the site last Thursday and that he expected another visit to the site tomorrow (Wednesday). He also stated that there was a deep concern and anger amongst local residents who lived in the area close to the rock blasting. "I am aware that initial reports from the Contractors on the incident, have been forwarded to our Councils Environmental health Department and they will be studied closely. However I share the view of many including residents and our Environmental Health Department that the findings of the Health and Safety Executive are key in determining a date for restarting of the blast programme, if that is what is proposed. Given that another senior officer from the Health and Safety Executive is due I believe to visit the area on Wednesday the 15th of April, it is my belief that all blasting should be cancelled until that visit is finished and the views of the health and Safety Executive made known particularly to the local residents. It is very important that communication with local residents is maintained over this period concerning any proposal to restart the blast programme," said the Committee Chairperson who continued, "Whilst it has been recognised by all the importance of this major road project and the completion of it is eagerly awaited, we cannot underestimate the concerns of local residents. The Councils Liaison Committee has endeavoured to work with all agencies and stakeholders involved to minimise and address where practically possible any concerns and inconvenience, but this recent blasting incident is totally unacceptable". Councillor Mc Ginn concluded by stating that there needed to be a definite timescale on when the blasting operation on the stretch of road would end, and also a commitment from the Contractors that all homes in the area would be independently and professionally examined to identify any areas of damage caused to homes and other properties as a result of the blasting operation.