Councillors clash over housing

A BALTINGLASS Municipal District councillor has branded as ‘disingenuous’ comments by his fellow council member in relation to planned social housing.

Cllr Gerry O’Neill responded to comments by Baltinglass MD Cathaoirleach Tommy Cullen suggesting that 50 new social housing units approved for Burgage, Blessington could be ready to move into by 2020.

According to Cllr O’Neill, the upgrade to the Blessington wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has to be completed before any housing can be constructed.

‘It’s a little disingenuous for Cllr Cullen to claim that there will be 50 housing units ready in Blessington for people to ‘move into’ in 16 months’ time. He knows quite well that until Irish Water upgrades the sewerage system in Blessington there can be no new housing,’ Cllr O’Neill said.

Cllr O’Neill said that it is ‘unfair to give people false hopes’ when housing is so badly needed.

A spokesperson for Irish Water said that a planning application to upgrade Blessington WWTP was submitted in March of this year.

‘We received a request for further information from Wicklow County Council and have replied to the request this week. Once the planning process has concluded and if planning is granted we will be in a position to provide a date on the completion of the upgrade works. If, and once planning is concluded it will take approximately 12 months to upgrade the Blessington Wastewater Treatment Plant,’ she said.