Locating a waste water treatment plant near heavily populated areas in Glenascaul, Oranmore, and Gurran makes no sense and the idea must be re-examined.
This is the view of the Independent Oranmore councillor Jim Cuddy, who is calling on the Galway County Council to “look carefully at areas of population” before making a final decision on the new plant for the east of the city.
He also wants to see the council consult with the local population on the matter. “It is imperative that the county council hold a public meeting to inform local residents of what is being proposed before anything is set in stone,” he said.
The county council employed Tobin Consulting Engineers which identified a suitable location for a new waste water treatment plant as the Mutton Island plant is near capacity. Ten sites were examined and a site at Glenascaul was chosen as the preferred option.
While Cllr Cuddy acknowledged that a new waste water treatment plant is necessary on the east side of the city, he is critical of moves to locate it near Glenascaul, Oranmore, and Gurran.
“Such a facility should be located in a sparsely populated area where there would be very little impact on the environment or on the local people,” he said.
The council now has to apply for funding from the Department of the Environment to carry out an Environmental Impact Statement and other studies of the area.
“This is a multi-million euro construction programme,” he said, “and there is a real danger that when it is up and running, the site would also be used for sludge treatment.”
