The Avondhu

No timeframe provided for Mitchelsto­wn WWT plant

- MARIAN ROCHE

There is still no timeframe provided from Irish Water on the interim works on the Mitchelsto­wn Wastewater Treatment (WWT) plant. The plan to upgrade the facility, which is at capacity and does not presently allow any new developmen­t to take place in the town, is currently being developed.

Irish Water say that they are not in a position to commit to timelines at the moment. The report on the interim works options was expected to be ready in late January of this year, where the feasibilit­y of the various options could be discussed with the planning authority, Cork County Council. In March, Irish Water confirmed that they expected the works to begin this year.

The works will allow the treatment plant to restore the capacity to handle a further 1,800 ‘population equivalent­s’, which roughly equates to the capacity to handle another 1,800 people in the town.

For at least one housing developmen­t in Mitchelsto­wn, that of 24 houses in Sliabh Alainn, planning permission was granted in 2016 but with the condition attached that constructi­on won’t start until the upgrades at the WWT plant have commenced.

A second condition dictates that no house shall be occupied before the wastewater treatment plant is shown to be functionin­g to the required standard.

A query has been put to Cork County Council if and when the plant is upgraded with these interim works, if developmen­ts like the one in Sliabh Alainn, and other developmen­ts with simliar conditions attached, can proceed.

At the time of going to press this week, no reply was received.

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