Part of Tipperary village won't benefit from proposed wastewater plant now under appeal

Planning approval for a new wastewater treatment plant for Grangemockler is under appeal with a councillor urging Uisce Éireann to use this delay to extend the project to take in areas of the community that won’t benefit from the infrastructure as it’s currently proposed.

Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District David Dunne said the appeals submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála over the 10-year planning permission for the plant gives Uisce Éireann time to resolve the shortcomings of the project.

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Tipperary County Council approved planning permission for the construction of the integrated wetland type waste water treatment plant in the townlands of Grangemockler, Currasilla Lower and Bleenaleen Lower, Grangemockler on August 7. The decision was appealed by a number of local residents on August 29.

The exclusion of key community infrastructure along the N76 and Mill Road including St Mary’s Church, Grangemockler NS and Cardinal Browne Community Centre along with individual homes and businesses from the treatment plant’s catchment area was highlighted in public submissions made to Tipperary County Council during the planning application process.

Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy was among those who pointed this out in his submission to the Council and called for the necessary drainage works to be carried out to include them in the project.

Cllr Dunne echoed his call and called on Deputy Murphy to “reinforce his previous misgivings” about the development with “solid actions” to ensure the real needs of the area are reflected in a revised design plan that addresses the current and future needs of the wider area.

“Previously I pointed out that this proposal excluded communities in the locality of the N76 and Mill Road, and would prohibit future connections to the upgraded system in the future,” said the Sinn Fein councillor from Carrick-on-Suir.

“Effectively, the proposal in its current form would result in an incomplete development, that would leave the sewage needs of areas unaddressed, while hindering future developments in the wider community.

“I welcome the fact that the consideration of these appeals will allow more time for the whole plan to be reconsidered.

“It is my intention to use this time to highlight the prevailing opinion locally that this plan is exclusionary and must be revisited and improved.”

“The time for half measures on the part of successive governments must end. The current and future needs of communities in the area must be met. We have the time to do this, and we must seize this opportunity for the needs of homes and businesses throughout the area to be provided for.”

Cllr Dunne called on other local public representatives to work with him to get this plan revised so the N76 and Mill Road are not excluded and the sewage system provided for the village serves all who need it and caters for future developments.

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