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by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
AN Inishowen county
councillor said it was ‘disgraceful’ that a young
couple had to leave their home at the weekend
because the smell from a nearby sewerage treatment
plant became so bad.
Councillor Michael Doherty said the foul odour
issued at West Point Manor in Quigley’s Point has
been ongoing for a number of years now and is
unacceptable.
In 2010 a local businessman who lives beside the
housing development’s septic tank was hospitalised
after chronic stomach complaints caused by toxic
fumes. His then eight-year-old daughter was also
taken into hospital with serious stomach problems.
“It’s disgraceful that the family affected is not
even connected to the plant. They don’t even
contribute to it but they bear the brunt of the
smell. I was standing at the nearby filling station
last weekend and it was nearly impossible to stay
there because of the smell. It seems to get worse
every weekend when the tank is used more,” Cllr
Doherty said.
“As the weather improves the problem gets even worse
and it’s unacceptable. I have been dealing with Joe
Ferry on this and, in fairness to him, he has put in
a lot of effort but the problem hasn’t been solved
and I don’t know where to go with it,” he added.
The Quigley’s Point councillor praised a ‘very
active’ management company at West Point Manor but
said the problem had ‘gone beyond them’ at this
stage.
“They have attempted to deal with the problem by de-sludging
the tank but it’s not working,” he added. Donegal
County Council senior engineer Pat Gillespie said he
would talk to Joe [Ferry] to see what could be done.
“It may need some sort of a chemical solution. I
can’t guarantee that it’ll work but we’ll see what
happens,” he added. |
