Lack of sewage treatment cited as Lahinch development rejected

AN application for planning permission for 28 houses at Station Road, Lahinch has been refused by Clare County Council.

Victoria Cross Retail Limited had made the application for the development, which was met by a number of objections.

Refusing the application, the Chief Executive’s Order made reference to the inadequate sewerage facilities in Lahinch and stated the development would be premature.

This constraint is unlikely to be overcome in the immediate future.

The order stated, “It is further considered that the proposed development of 28 houses to be serves by means of an on site wastewater treatment would set an undesirable precedent for development of further housing estates served by such ad hoc treatment systems.

“Taken in conjunction with the level of existing and approved development in the vicinity (it) would result in a risk of pollution and would be prejudicial to public health.”

The report also said the Council was not satisfied that the proposed use of an on-site waste water treatment unit by virtue of inadequate separation distance to existing and proposed houses would not have an adverse impact on residential amenity in terms of noise, odour and nuisance.

One of the objections to the proposed development had come from Darach Honan of Clonlara, who had raised problems with sewerage capacity.

“The sewage system in Lahinch is not fit for purpose with the EPA outlining in 2019 that raw untreated sewage was being released directly into the sea. This development will further overburden the system.”

He warned that allowing it to go ahead would damage Lahinch’s appeal to visitors.

“Lahinch beach lost its blue flag status temporarily in 2020 due to bacteria in the water. There were such levels of bacteria in the water that the beach was closed.

“An additional 28 houses would further exacerbate this problem and will lead to further longer closures.”

Dublin-based Dr Diarmuid O Grada had also raised concerns about treatment capacity in his submission.

“We understand that Lahinch sewage treatment system is already inadequate and that the effluent is causing great concern for public health.

“In such circumstances any increased loading would be contrary to public health. We invite the Council to find the current proposal is premature pending the upgrading of the sewage treatment capacity.”

Local hotelier Michael Vaughan had expressed concern about allowing a development of holiday homes to go ahead.

“From the plans submitted it would seem that the house sizes are planned with the intention of summer homes.

“I would fear that many of the units could be utilised as investment properties offered on short term letting sites such as Air B&B.

“Such used would materially affect the viability of commercial rate paying enterprises such as Vaughan Lodge Hotel. I would urge the planners to give particular consideration to limiting the use of the properties as short let housing.

“There is an opportunity here to add significantly to the permanent population of the village and I would urge the planners to utilise this site for the long term benefit of Lahinch as opposed to adding to the seasonality.”

He also had concerns about sewerage. Saying it is “uncertain whether the current sewage treatment facility has the capacity to effectively treat the waste created when Lahinch is at peak occupation with over 4,000 inhabitants, tourists and a couple of thousand day trippers”.