Sewage spilling onto public road in Spanish Point

UNTREATED sewage is coming out onto a public road, close to The Armada Hotel and Spanish Point beach, due to a dispute involving an electrical service provider.

At the July meeting of Ennistymon Area Councillors, Michael Hillery requested a date for taking in charge the Westpark estate in Spanish Point.

A written reply from Bernadette Haugh stated, “A section 180 was received from the residents in November 2011. At the time there were separate legal proceedings in progress under the Water Pollution Act 1977 and the Water Services Act 2007, which were listed for hearing earlier this year.

“Clare County Council unsuccessfully processed legal proceedings in the District Court and has since met with its legal advisors in relation to Westpark Estate and has initiated further legal proceedings in this case.
“The application under Section 180 will not therefore be progressed as matters are the subject of legal process. Clare County Council does not have any management or maintenance responsibilities currently in relation to the Westpark development.”

Councillor Hillery said that there are 55 houses in the estate and at the start of June the electricity provider turned off the current to the sewage treatment plant, due to an outstanding bill.
The treatment plant isn’t working and sewage is coming up onto the road, Councillor Hillery said, while he called for something to be done in the short term.

Senior executive engineer Stephen Lahiffe told the meeting he was limited in what he could say, because of the legal circumstances.
He said the estate has been run privately since its construction and responsibility for it does not rest with Clare County Council. The council have gone in and cleared the sewage on occasions after receiving requests from the HSE, he added.

The matter is between the management company for the estate and the service provider, he added.
There were suggestions that the council take over the treatment plant for the moment, and at a later stage recoup monies from the unsuccessful party in the court case.