Some 300 people attended the septic tank public meeting organised by Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh, in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, Belmullet, on Monday evening last. The resounding message from the meeting was that people are not going to register their septic tanks or pay any fees at least until the long awaited Belmullet Sewerage Scheme is completed.
Speaking after the meeting Rose Conway-Walsh said: “I was very pleased with the turnout for the meeting and thank everyone for attending including Cllr Michael Holmes and Cllr Micheal McNamara. This is just the beginning of the campaign to make the Government accountable for the complete delivery of the Belmullet Sewerage Scheme. I held the meeting to inform and bring people up to date with what the proposed legislation would mean to them. The choice whether or not to register must lie with the individual householder. However the show of hands to indicate the number of people who are currently unwilling to register or have an inspector come on their property was overwhelming. Many people said they were prepared to go to jail rather than let their septic tanks be inspected while raw sewerage was flowing into Broadhaven Bay. Belmullet has waited over 30 years for a sewerage scheme.
“Other issues discussed were affordability, the performance standards to be used, unsuitable percolation areas, and what would happen in the case where the septic tank was on the neighbour’s land. People called for grant aid to be made available and for a scheme similar to the SEAI, Home Energy Scheme, to be set up.”
It was agreed that people would make contact with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Environment Minister Phil Hogan, and Government TDs in Mayo to request that the proposed legislation be revised, and to let them know that they would not be registering their septic tanks at least until the Belmullet Sewerage Scheme including the network collection was fully implemented.
“Many at the meeting felt that there was a responsibility on the people of Erris to stick together on this issue and play a full part in national protests and campaigns,” Cllr Conway Walsh concluded.
