This article is from page 9 of the 2011-09-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
COMPLAINTS of unsavoury odours in the Smithstown and Ballycasey areas of Shannon are being investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clare County Council. The Clare People can reveal that an investigation has been launched, which involves EPA inspectors carrying out odour checks in the vicinity, in an attempt to isolate a potential source for the smell which has been circulating in recent weeks.
“So far, no particular source has been identified but work continues,” a spokesperson for the EPA told The Clare People .
This has come about amid several complaints about odours in areas including Smithstown, Ballycasey and Tullyvarraga, in recent weeks.
According to some reports, the smell is an unsavoury pungent odour, while other people are complaining of a sewage smell.
Last week, Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy called for Shannon Town Council to write to the EPA to investigate the issue. She said that it should be addressed as a matter of urgency, after a previous odour was in circulation for two years.
“My concern is the length of time it is going to take to sort out this issue. We have been here before, albeit not the same area. A number of complaints have been lodged.
“They need to sort it out and let the people know what is the cause of it. We need openness and transparency and we need to know when they carry out their checks,” she told The Clare People.
“They need to act straightaway,” said Cllr McCarthy.
Meanwhile, the town’s grading in terms of EPA monitoring has dipped in recent days. Last week, the air quality was deemed ‘very good’, by the EPA, but has now changed to ‘good’. According to the EPA, this arose out of monitoring on August 31.
In March of this year, the EPA put monitoring measures in place and recorded a result of ‘good’ at the time.
The EPA’s mobile laboratory which is located in the town actively analyses the quality of air in the town and surrounding areas. When the EPA announced the measure in March, it indicated that the initiative would continue for up to a year.
The assessment is done via a trailer which is located at the rear of the civic offices in Shannon. Analysers are contained in the trailer and these are read on a regular basis.
There is also a fixed network whereby a number of sites around the county are monitored on a continuous basis.