Milltown wastewater plant forced onto CDP
The provision of a wastewater treatment plant for Milltown is to be written into the new County Development Plan after the motion was pushed through against the advice of executive planners.
Elected members want the local authority to liaise with Irish Water regarding the installation of such a facility in Milltown.
Despite being on the cards for several years, going so far as to have plans drawn up, provision of a treatment plant was stepped over in the list of projects listed for investment when Irish Water was first established.
The motion, tabled for inclusion in the CDP, which will go out to public consultation later this month, was tabled by Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley and seconded by party colleague Sean Smith. The latter had raised the matter for discussion at a previous council meeting.
However, senior planner Nicholas O’Kane expressed the executive’s concern with the motion, explaining there are as many as 20 so-called community nodes already identified on the plan for investment in Cavan, and it would be “unfair” to prioritise one above others.
“We feel all should be considered on merit,” stated Mr O’Kane.
But Cllr Feeley maintained that, as the proposed project for Milltown had been progressed already, it was “worthy” of specific inclusion.
The motion was put to a vote by members, with 10 in favour (Philip Brady, Brendan Fay, Aiden Fitzpatrick, John Paul Feeley, Clifford Kelly, Craig Lovett, Sarah O’Reilly, Shane P O’Reilly, Sean Smith and Patricia Walsh); to three against (Madeleine Argue, TP O’Reilly, and Winston Bennett); and five abstentions (Carmel Brady, Paddy McDonald, Peter McVitty, Trevor Smith, and Val Smith).
Cllr McVitty (FG) said he would have liked the reasons for and against “explained better” instead of being “hit with a one-liner” on the subject. Fellow abstainers Cllrs T Smith and V Smith also said they did not know enough about the subject.
A separate motion by Cllr Feeley was supported by the council’s executive, seconded also by Cllr S Smith.
In sought the inclusion of the wording ‘and Rural Community Nodes’ in a section of the CDP that notes the council’s intention to liaise and work with Irish Water during the lifetime of the plan (2022-2028) for the provision, extension and upgrading of wastewater collection and treatment systems across the county.
Cllr Feeley’s party colleague Sean Smith, meanwhile, put down a motion that Ballymacgovern on the border with Co Leitrim be included as a Rural Community Node.
He stated that the area was brimming with potential, adjacent to Garadice and Ballymacgovern Lake. “I’d like it acknowledged,” said Cllr Smith, who had his motion seconded by Cllr McVitty.