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End for Carnagarve sewerage
scheme?
23.07.10
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by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
THE future of the controversial Carnagarve sewerage
plant is in grave doubt after An Bord Pleanála
refused permission for a pumping station and sought
substantial information on other aspects of the
scheme.
An Bord Pleanála has rejected the proposed pumping
station at Glenburnie as “not acceptable on
amenity/environmental protection grounds”. A
spokesman said Donegal County Council’s response to
requests for further information on other aspects of
the controversial project fell far short of what was
required. |
Enda Craig, a local
resident and spokesperson for the Community for a
Clean Estuary, said the residents’ campaign against
the Carnagarve project has been vindicated. He said
Donegal County Council now had questions to answer
because it “is back to square one” with the whole
project.
“The local community has been vindicated in its
stance,” Mr Craig said. “We warned from day one that
the pumping station would destroy the local beach
and pathway and people are upbeat now that An Bord
Pleanála has rejected it on amenity and
environmental grounds.”
An Bord Pleanála held an oral hearing into the
scheme in June 2009 and has since requested further |
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information from Donegal County
Council. It most recently sought additional
information in February 2010, with the council
responding in March. However, the board has rejected
information supplied by the council and has given it
until October to furnish it with up-to-date and
relevant information.
The council had proposed to provide requested
information on ground conditions and construction
impact at the Carnagarve site after approval had
been granted, a proposal rejected as “not
acceptable” by the planning appeals authority.
Information had also been sought seeking
justification for the scheme configuration, but the
board rejected the council’s response as being based
on calculations that are out of date.
“Why wasn’t this up to date and appropriate
information supplied in the first place?” Mr Craig
asked.
“We recognise the need for a wastewater treatment
plant, we just dispute its location at Carnagarve.”
“We have taken on the might of the council and the
political parties, especially Fianna Fáil, and we
have been vindicated,” he continued. “We pointed out
the flaws in the scheme and An Bord Pleanála have
agreed with us and are now seeking substantial
further information on the overall scheme.”
Mr Craig also criticised comments made by Senator
Cecilia Keaveney on Highland Radio on Tuesday. She
said that the council risked being fined by the EU
for breaching European directives by pumping
untreated sewage into the Foyle.
She said that she wasn’t sure of the reason for the
delays and why the scheme is still at the
preliminary planning stage.
“We’re disappointed with Senator Keaveney’s
comments,” Mr Craig said. “The original site for
this plant was at the old Mill but that was changed
by councillors, including the then Cllr Keaveney.
That delayed the scheme immeasurably.”
Mr Craig also rejected comments by Senator Keaveney
that there were question marks over the necessity of
an environmental impact statement, saying that an
EIS was always required. |
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