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Friel, Hume raise fears about
sewage
28.02.11
PLAYWRIGHT Brian Friel,
former SDLP leader John Hume and the North’s
Minister for Agriculture, Michelle Gildernew, have
lodged concerns about Donegal County Council’s plans
for a sewerage scheme in a scenic area on the shores
of Lough Foyle.
The three, who all live or holiday in the area, have
joined local residents involved in the 'Campaign for
a Clean Estuary' in expressing their fears about the
plan.
The Moville-Greencastle environmental group has been
fighting for a decade to stop Donegal County Council
securing approval for one particular location for
the pumping station and outflow pipe.
The Department of the Environment gave approval to
the local authority in 2005 to proceed to the
planning stage.
In a letter to An Bord Pleanála last May, former
SDLP leader and MEP John Hume expressed his “total
opposition” to the plan, which he described as
“shortsighted” and drawn up “without any thought for
the damage which may be done in one of the most
beautiful areas of Inishowen”, according to a report
in today's 'Irish Times'.
In his letter, Mr Hume described his house at
Lafferty’s Lane as a “lifesaving retreat” during his
almost 40 years in public life. He said his wife Pat
and family were “deeply distressed that the pumping
station and overflow pipe are at the end of our
garden”.
Brian Friel has also written to the appeals board,
pointing out the negative impact of the location and
the fact that “obvious alternatives” were not
presented by Donegal County Council. Michelle
Gildernew has supported calls for an independent
investigation into the proposals.
The council said the scheme was required to “remove
the existing raw sewage discharges into the Bredagh
river and Lough Foyle, to comply with EU Directives
and to provide infrastructure for the development of
Moville and Greencastle”.
However, the local authority’s preferred location in
Carnagarve was not among the seven recommended after
a public consultation exercise it undertook. It
identified Carnagarve as being suitable, in spite of
proximity to a beach and a popular coastal walking
route at Lafferty’s Lane.
An Bord Pleanála held an oral hearing in Redcastle
in July 2009. A result is still pending. The board
has sought further information and clarification. |
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