This article is from page 4 of the 2008-03-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE ability of Ennis to achieve a rise in population to 38,000 by 2015 is under serious threat due to the current inability of the town’s infra- structure to allow new housing de- velopments.
That is the view of Green Party councillor, Brian Meaney who made his comment yesterday after Ennis Town Council raised doubts over granting planning permission to 133 houses on the northern outskirts of Ennis due to the current capacity of the Ennis sewage system.
The background issues paper on the drawing up of a new Ennis Develop- ment plan anticipates that there will be a population of 38,000 in Ennis by 2015.
However, the local council has now adopted a policy of not granting planning permission to only portions of large scale development due to the incapacity of the town’s sewage treatment plants to cater for the de- velopments.
Currently, a new €75 million sew- age treatment plant to be built in the Clareabbey area and the council must source €30 million of the cost
through developer contributions.
Ennis Town Manager, Tom Tiernan said recently that it may not be until complete until 2102.
However, in the meantime, Cllr Meaney expressed concerns that the growth of Ennis will be stymied and the town will not reach its 2015 pop- ulation target due to shortcomings in the local infrastructure.
“Unless new sewerage infrastruc- ture can be put in place, planners will be unable to plan Ennis on a sustain- able basis.
“It has been clearly flagged that the sewage capacity is exhausted,” he
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Cllr Meaney made his comments arising from the town council putting a plan by Keco Ltd on hold.
The construction firm is seeking to build 133 homes near Ballycorey on the northern outskirts of Ennis.
In its letter to the developers, the council states, “The Planning Au- thority has concerns at present re- garding the capacity of the main sewage treatment plant at Clonroad- more to accommodate large housing developments.
A decision is due on the planning application later this year.