Related Stories

• December 1993 – A look back in time in The Avondhu area
  
  
• 10th anniversary for Galbally senior citizens
  
  
• Rathcormac fundraises for Marymount & Arc House
  
  
• Cork Autism Network coffee morning in Mallow
  
  
• Curraghagalla NS achieve active flag
  
  
• Woodwork students cut to the chase at Glennon Brothers
  
  
• Simon to benefit from morning fundraiser in Kilworth
  
  
• Deasy told of interim measures to stem Tallow river pollution
  
  
• Ballyduff women selected as Special Olympics volunteer
  
  
• Rubbish dumped near Holy Well in Ballyduff
  
  
• ‘Schools Minor Repair Grant is badly needed for winter months’ – Matt McGrath
  
  
• Text alert service top of the bill at annual Fermoy meeting
  
  

Major housing and industrial developments in towns like Fermoy may be put on hold due to an EU directive which seeks to protect the freshwater pearl mussel.

Should a forthcoming survey prove that freshwater pearl mussels are present in significant numbers in the river Blackwater, plans to build some 900 housing units in Fermoy over the next seven years, could be delayed.

Major housing and industrial developments in towns like Fermoy may be put on hold due to an EU directive which seeks to protect the freshwater pearl mussel.

Cork County Council will undertake a survey of the River Blackwater, and if it is found that the freshwater pearl mussel is present in significant numbers, towns along and near the river will be precluded from any major construction developments for the foreseeable future.

The EU are seeking to ensure that the River Blackwater is of the quality required to support the mussel, and any new developments would be delayed to ensure this is the case if significant numbers are detected.

Speaking at this week’s Cork County Council meeting, chief executive Tim Lucey said they had no choice but to abide by the EU directive, and this could delay the councils plans to build some 900 housing units in Fermoy over the next seven years.

Consultants will complete the first of two assessments on the river early in the new year, and if as expected high numbers are found, Irish Water will be forced to carry out significant investments in sewage treatment systems, before further large-scale developments can be planned.

Councillor Frank O’Flynn fears this directive could have a ‘devastating effect’ on the future economic development of Fermoy and its surrounding areas.

“They’re putting on hold any future development. It’s going to have serious implications for Fermoy, we know they’re a major shortage of houses. I have a few builders at the moment who want to start building houses, they’re now told they have to put their plans on hold.”

With new jobs coming on stream in the area, particularly in Dairygold in Mitchelstown, Cllr O’Flynn said he has spoken with people who are struggling to find accommodation in the area, and any delay in new housing developments will seriously impact on housing newly employed people in the area.

“We also have a need for social housing in Fermoy, we have a 26-acre site in uplands in Fermoy, now that’ll also have to go in hold. So if money becomes available from the Department of Social Housing, they’re a possibility we won’t be able to build that. There’s also a possibility that this issue will be used when the new Gaelscoil planning permission goes in, which I hope it doesn’t.

“I see the need for investigation, but I hope that the study will be undertaken as soon as possible,” he added.

Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe expressed his concern that towns and villages along the river may be affected, saying it will have a ‘detrimental impact’ on the growth of these towns from a population point of view. “This in turn will have a knock on effect of the economic growth in the area,” he added.

Cllr O’Keeffe highlighted his annoyance of the manner in which this possible restriction to further planning permissions was brought before Cork County Council.

“As many would be aware, our local authority is in the final stages in the making of the Cork County Development Plan. Now consequent to the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Survey & Report, our County Development Plan will have to be amended to allow for its recommendations to be implemented when ready.

“Instead of allowing this EU directive to gather dust on someone’s shelf all along, the government and local authority could have taken action to ensure its compliance was in place,” said Cllr O’Keeffe.

It is not expected that small-scale housing estates and one-off houses will be affected by the directive. Along with Fermoy, areas such as Ballyhooly, Killavullen, Castletownroche, Doneraile, Kilworth and Glanworth may be affected, both as a directive consequence of lying along the River Blackwater, as well as being close to rivers which feed the Blackwater.

blog comments powered by Disqus