NO HOUSES FOR MITCHELSTOWN AS W.W.T.P. PUTS A HOLD ON DEVELOPMENT

As the Quarterly Directorate Report on housing was welcomed by councillors at this week's Northern Committee meeting, the issue of the Mitchelstown Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) was raised once again.

Local councillor Deirdre O’Brien, welcoming an update on housing developments at Brigown and Glanworth, however noted her disappointment that no houses were being built in Mitchelstown.

“At a time when we have the County Development Plan trying to reduce planning in the countryside, I am extremely busy working with individuals in trying to secure a planning application,” Cllr O’Brien said.

She went on to note that social housing applicants approved for HAP cannot find accommodation in the town, while young families are being forced to commute. Local businesses are also suffering as they rely on those in the town to sustain them.

“We are led to believe it is our waste water treatment plant that is the issue, over capacity. We haven’t built a single estate in the last 10 years,” Cllr O’Brien added.

Referring to a planning application for the development of thirty units at Sliabh Alainn, Brigown in Mitchelstown, approved by Cork County Council in 2017, Cllr O’Brien pointed to a condition attached to the development requiring that the WWTP be replaced.

“There are a number of developments with planning approval, one in particular of 30 units has an approved connection agreement from Irish Water, but Cork County Council will not remove the condition,” Cllr O’Brien said.

In 2018, as an upgrade of the Mitchelstown sewerage scheme was conducted, County Engineer Kevin Morey, noted that the short term focus of Irish Water was to address source control, referring to the input into the system

Cllr O’Brien queried this investigation into the input requesting an outcome on the matter, while also asking what has caused the overcapacity into the system and why 'refurbishment' of the plant has now turned into the 'replacement' of the plant.

Manager James Fogarty told Cllr O’Brien that the committee could not take the question as it was a ‘question for Irish Water’.

A previous motion put forward by Cllr Frank O’Flynn in relation to the sewage treatment plants throughout North Cork, was also raised.

Issues with plants in Glenville, Glanworth and Mitchelstown were highlighted as Cllr O’Flynn noted that progress on this ‘comes down to a matter of funding’.

He also pointed to funding recently secured by Mallow for the upgrade of the Mallow sewage treatment plant, calling for the committee to write to the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien to secure funding for upgrades in Mitchelstown.

“The town of Mitchelstown will die if we do not get this. It’s the only town in North Cork at the moment that housing is at a standstill.

“I’m calling on Minister O’Brien and I ask that we would push it as far as possible that he would provide funding immediately. It is the programme, it’s on the list, 2020-2024. We cannot wait. The people of Mitchelstown cannot wait,” Cllr O’Flynn stressed.

Manager James Fogarty refrained from commenting further on the matter.