Shell’s proposed work schedule

472 truck movements per day, coming your way
Shell is shortly expected to attempt construction of the Corrib onshore pipeline. Years later than originally planned, rerouted three times, the onshore pipeline remains the most controversial, dangerous and costly onshore pipeline to be constructed in Ireland.
We face over two years of yet more disruption; being surrounded by  heavy construction traffic, escorted truck convoys, noise and light pollution, van loads of Shell workers, Gardai and private security moving continuously between construction sites in our community.

What is the planned timeline?
The construction period is planned to take 26 months. If work begins in April 2011, the earliest possible completion time would be in June 2013. During the 26 months Shell are planning continuous truck movements to and from construction sites at Aughoose and Glengad, the Bord na Mona site at Srahmore, the refinery and local quarries. At Glengad Shell will use Compulsory Acquisition Orders over landowners and attempted to build the dangerous experimental Landfall Valve Installation (LVI). At Aughoose Shell want to build the huge compound for the tunnel boring machine.

Daily Truck Movement Schedule
Heavy Construction vehicles will be permitted to travel between 7am and 7pm on weekdays and 8am-4pm on Saturdays, all year round. Abnormal loads will be permitted to move through the area outside of normal traffic times.

The haulage route
Heavy construction vehicles will move from Bangor Erris to the local quarry on the R313; from the quarry eastwards past the Srahmore peat deposition site and to Bangor Erris, and from Bangor Erris to northwards along the L1204 around Carrowmore lake, turning right onto the R314 or North Coast Road past the refinery, and then turning left onto the L1202 to Aughoose, Pollathomas and Glengad. The most significant impact of the haulage will be on the quietest and narrowest road running between Aughoose and Glengad, where there will be, according to Michael Noonan’s assessment, “negative
construction traffic impacts on Pollathomais and Glengad residents”.

Shell worker traffic
Shell have estimated that there would be in the region of 662 daily car/bus two-way trips associated with the four sites (Aughoose, Glengad, Srahmore and the refinery) during month 2, the peak month for truck movements.

Convoy chaos
Up to 5 HCVs may be required to travel in convoy during peak periods of construction activity.
To carry out the work in Glengad Shell will need to move a total of approximately 862 HCVs to Glengad over a 2 month period. Shell admitted that the roads are insufficient widths for two heavy construction vehicles to pass. Shell also plan to deploy ‘flagmen’ to
stop local people from entering the sections of narrow road as trucks are approaching and until they have passed.

Shell have priority over local residents
Shell plan to rely on ‘driver courtesy’ on behalf of local road users who are expected to pull into the nearest available private dwellings and farm gateways to allow Shell convoys to pass. At the same time, HCV drivers will be trained not to ‘engage in conversation’ with local people.

 
No Consent
“We cannot sit back and do nothing and allow ourselves and our neighbours to be overrun by this proposed project from which the beautiful Sruwaddacon Bay area will never recover.  We have been watching the systematic destruction for too many years. “– Local resident

There is no community consent for the operations that Shell is about to force upon this area for over two years. As one Pollathomas resident submitted to the An Bord Pleanala hearing in September 2010, “the mitigation measures listed in the Transport Management Plan will not provide any change because there is still nobody but the
developer itself to turn to. There is no trust, no good will and we have no common values.”
Across the world Shell’s appalling track record of accidents, oil spills, illegal gas flaring and human rights abuses forces people to protect their communities and environment from Shell.

It’s not too late to stop Shell’s proposed project here! Let’s work together to protect our community and environment. Talk to your neighbours, we should not have to suffer this disruption to our area. If you would like more information on what you can do, please get in touch 0851141170.

 

It’s not too late to get a fair deal for Ireland

There is a worldwide trend of governments reclaiming ownership of privatised gas and oil reserves. The existing deal already allows Ireland to halt work on the Corrib Gas field. The licensing terms state: “The Minister may require that specified exploration, exploitation, production or processing activities should cease in any case where the Minister is satisfied that it is desirable to do so in order to reduce the risk of injury to the person or damage to property or the environment.”