*Cllr Bill Slattery (inset) said local councillors were not aware of the proposed site at Calluragh or planned marine outfall at Cregg Beach, despite landowners being told on August 30 that they were.
RESIDENTS in Lahinch and Ennistymon were not adequately informed about Uisce Eireann’s consultation in relation to a wastewater treatment plant.
That’s according to Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara (MEP) who has written to Uisce Eireann’s CEO Niall Glesson expressing concern about the process.
Residents have raised concerns about the proposed site at Calluragh, the planned marine outfall at Cregg Beach, pipeline routes, environmental and marine impacts.
Mr McNamara said the basis for the 9,300 figure must be made clear, particuarly given its proximity to the 10,000 threshold. “I would be very sceptical of that figure given that 10,000 us the threshold for secondary treatment and the requirement of an Environment Impact Assessment Report.”
The issue was also raised by Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) at the September meeting of the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) where he highlighted misinformation that councillors were aware of the route selection, which he said is not the case. Cllr Slattery said they are “getting it in the teeth in North Clare” about the selection.
Speaking to The Clare Echo following the meeting, Cllr Slattery said there was “a lot of annoyance” over communication between Uisce Éireann, Clare County Council and local councillors regarding the selection of a preferred route for the proposed Callura wastewater treatment plant serving Ennistymon and Lahinch.
He said councillors had sought briefings over the previous six months on the location and selection process but had received no information, adding that he had contacted the chief executive of Clare County Council to establish whether any communication had been received from Uisce Éireann.
Cllr Slattery said he was subsequently informed that nothing had been received by the council’s planning section for around nine months.
He said landowners were told on August 30 that, when surveys were carried out on their lands, they had been advised that he was aware the route had been selected, which he said was not the case.
Cllr Slattery said he had been verbally abused on the street as a result and wanted the matter publicly clarified.
He also said there had been “contentious issues” involving landowners and neighbours and called on Uisce Éireann to clarify why the route had been selected and what alternative routes had been considered.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
