This article is from page 62 of the 2013-01-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
RESIDENTS of a Spanish Point housing estate have been “left in limbo” with a dysfunctional sewage system which has contributed to Spanish Point beach losing its blue flag.
That is according to councillors at yesterday’s Ennistymon Area Meeting of Clare County Council, with local Cllr Michael Hillery (FF) requesting that Clare County Council take the WestPart development in charge.
“The council have paid a private contractor to remove sewerage from this estate on at least four occasions over the last 18 months. This treatment plant is not working properly and is a health hazard in the area,” said Cllr Hillery.
“It is also very close to Spanish Point beach which, unfortunately, does not have a Blue Flag at the moment.
“Unfortunately, the bond which was put in place for this estate has elapsed. So there is no longer a bond in place to pay for this situation to be resolved.
“It states that Clare County Council cannot use funding or the lack of funding as an excuse not to take an estate in charge.
“The cost to Clare County Council of de-sludging this treatment plant is going to be more and more as this goes on.
“We would ask that Clare County Council take on this estate and al- low the residents to live a life that is reasonable and acceptable in this day and age.”
Responding to the motion, a council spokesperson confirmed that an application to take the estate in charge is currently being considered.
The spokesperson also confirmed that legal action under the Water Pollution Act is listed for hearing in the District Court on February 22.
“This is also an estate where the people living there do have to pay the household charge. That is a very big issue for the people in this estate,” said Cllr Hillery.
“A number of estates around the country have been exempted – but this one hasn’t. That is an issue for the residents.