‘Why wait for two years for new pipe’

DROGHEDA and its hinterland should not have to wait more than a year or two for a permanent solution to the water crisis that gripped the town last week.

Minister Eoghan Murphy’s commitment to replace 2.2 kilometres of water pipe at Staleen is seen as the right solution by Councillor Paul Bell but he has challenged the Minister, saying ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’

‘ The fact is that the issues with the water infrastructure at Staleen were well highlighted over the past several years and that an urban centre the size of Drogheda had no back up facility and support maintain the facility at Rosehall is staggering”. Said Bell.

“Our town and hinterland needs the construction of the infrastructure to start now and not in 18 or 36 months. I reject the utterances of those who say that there will be planning implications. The water infrastructure is a national issue and as such covered by planning laws for projects which are in the public interest.’

“I have given notice to Council that I intend to bring forward a motion at the September meeting of the Municipal Borough of Drogheda meeting on the issue to allow debate and also to call on Meath County Council and Laytown Bettystown Municipal District Council to also motion Government to ensure that the infrastructure committed to is delivered in the immediate future.’

David Bradley, a candidate in the last local elections, said that restaurants that had to close for health and safety reasons should be compensated. ‘Livelihoods are being affected and the banks still want the loans on these premises paid regardless of local issues,’ he stated.