Hopes of saving east Clare community’s lands from dezoning

A BID has been made to have the local authority take over a sewage treatment plan in Kilmurry so that lands in the village might not be dezoned for development.

A motion was tabled by the Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan, calling for the local authority to take over the plant for the Ballymulcashel housing estate.

“I have talked to a builder,” he told the November district meeting. “Some years ago, a pilot project was undertaken and work done and a whole new system put in. The plant is brand new and fully funded. It is unfortunate that it is still in private ownership. We may need to take it on, or Irish Water won’t entertain it. In my view, it has to come into local authority ownership.”

Councillor O’Callaghan explained that under national guidelines informing the forthcoming development plan, lands that will not be serviced in the lifetime of the plan, must be dezoned for development.

“Kilmurry will be dezoned over lack of waste water infrastructure,” he said. “A design has been approved, but this plant is classified as not public. My aim is to get it into public ownership. if there’s any chance of development in this village, we need to start getting heads together.”

Councillor O’Callaghan thanked Senior Water Services and Environment Engineer Cyril Feeney for a written response to his motion, which outlined that issues regarding land ownership need to be resolved.

“I know where Cyril is coming from,” Councillor O’Callaghan said. “It is not in Clare County Council’s remit to look after waste water anymore.

“At the end of day, though, if things go wrong, Clare County Council has to step in and give it a hand. If you’ve any chance of Irish Water taking the plant over, it would have to be taken into Council ownership first.”

Councillor O’Callaghan said he was hopeful of arranging a meeting with Mr Feeney to look at progress. “The builder is willing,” he said. “Big public money has been spent on upgrading this. It’s using the reed bed system and groups have come to see it.”

Councillor Joe Cooney seconded the motion describing the plant as very modern. “It would be very sad to see Kilmurry lose out in terms of development,” he said.

“I am calling for Clare County Council to work with the developer to see if it can be taken over by the Council and, in turn, by Irish Water. It would help to grow the village of Kilmurry.

“We are all well aware there is development land. We need to work together to achieve that. Lands will be dezoned unfortunately in the next County Development Plan. That might be reviewed in the future if we can get public ownership of the plant.”

Director of Services, Anne Haugh, undertook to arrange a meeting with Mr Feeney.

The written response to the motion noted that the roads, footpaths, lights and green area at Ballymulcashel had been taken in charge by resolution of the district in February of 2017.

“However, there are still outstanding land ownership matters to be resolved with third parties before any decision can be made regarding the taking in charge of the Waste Water Treatment Plant,” the response stated.

“Clare County Council continues to positively engage with all parties in that regard.”