Call for Rochfortbridge sewage problems to be fixed before 12 new homes are built

Existing sewage problems in Rochfortbridge must be resolved before a proposed 12-home development at Castlepark proceeds, councillors have demanded.

Cllr Emily Wallace told the October meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad that residents were continuing to experience sewage backing up into their gardens and homes, despite assurances that the proposed development’s drainage arrangements met all relevant standards.

She welcomed the planned housing expansion but said the existing sewage infrastructure was failing in practice, regardless of whether it was compliant on paper.

One resident had experienced sewage coming through their back garden and into a kitchen utility porch, she said. After having the area renovated, the problem occurred again 18 months ago, and the resident was unable to obtain insurance because of the previous incident.

Cllr Wallace said the new development would connect to the main sewage system running along the main road, rather than simply relying on the existing pipe within Castlepark. She called on Uisce Éireann to resolve the legacy problems and increase capacity before the additional homes were connected.

“This is a health and safety issue but it’s also a humanity issue too,” she said, adding that the problems had been raised repeatedly.

She said similar legacy issues were affecting estates in Raharney, Killucan and Rathwire, and were contributing to difficulties in progressing housing developments in smaller towns and villages.

Cllr Denis Leonard seconded the motion, saying he had raised the issue several months earlier and had been assured it was being addressed.

He said existing residents could not be expected to accept more houses being added to a sewage system that was not adequately serving their own homes.

Cllr Niall Gaffney also supported the motion, describing sewage entering homes as an issue that should trigger an urgent response.

Cllr Ken Glynn questioned the effectiveness of correspondence with Uisce Éireann, saying replies to representatives could contain generic information without providing clear answers.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly said the council could write to Uisce Éireann if members agreed. She added that the director of housing was aware of a separate issue in the area and was due to meet a landowner on Thursday evening.

Cllr Wallace stressed that this was a separate matter and said Westmeath County Council had been proactive, but the outstanding sewage capacity problems required action from Uisce Éireann.

Supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme