NPWS says commercial turf cutting in Moycullen could threaten public safety

Galway Bay fm newsroom – The National Parks and Wildlife Service says commercially cutting turf in a bog near Moycullen can lead to public safety issues. Concerns have been raised over a ban on commerical turf cutting at a blanket bog based in Knockarasar. The bog is located off the Spiddal to Moycullen Road. Connemara Area Cllr Tomás Ó Curraoin says turf has been cut in the bogland at Knockarasar since the seventies. He says a contractor renting the bogland has been contacted by officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to advise that the area cannot be cut. The NPWS has confirmed in a statement to Galway Bay fm News, that turf-cutting can be undertaken on existing banks in the Natural Heritage Area by individuals for domestic fuel needs. However, the use of the sausage machine and commercial extraction are not allowed. The NPWS says sausage machines are particularly damaging and can lead to public safety issues because of the potential destabilisation of the bog. The post NPWS says commercial turf cutting in Moycullen could threaten public safety appeared first on Galway Bay FM.