Statutory planning notice for Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant to be published on 5th September-Brady

Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has welcomed confirmation that Irish Water is to publish the statutory planning notice for the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is intended to be published on the 5th September in both a local and national newspaper. The application will be subsequently lodged directly to An Bord Pleanala.

Speaking after receiving confirmation from Irish Water Teachta Brady said “The news that we are at a very advanced stage in the planning of the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant is great news for Arklow. Following my ongoing engagement with all the agencies responsible for delivering the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant, Irish Water has confirmed to me that they intend on publishing the statutory planning notice on the 5th September. The planning notice will be published in a local and national newspaper.”

“This is an important milestone for this critical infrastructural project that has unfortunately held Arklow’s full potential back for 20 years. The plan will involve the construction of the Wastewater Plant on the site of the old Wallboard factory on North Quay, Ferrybank for a planned equivalent population of 36,000. Once the statutory planning notice is published on 5th September, the application will be subsequently lodged directly to An Bord Pleanala. It is intended that the application will be available to the public for inspection from approx. 20th September for a period of 7 weeks.”

Local Sinn Féin councillor Mary McDonald also warmly welcomed the news and said “Since I was first elected as a councillor the sewage treatment plant has been one of my top priorities, I welcome the news which has been a long time coming. There is however some concerns locally regarding plans to carve off sections of the river bank along South Quay. Irish Water has also informed my colleague Teachta Brady that their application doesn’t include these proposals. These plans however may still be included in the proposed Flood Relief Scheme and we are still trying to get clarification.”

Teachta Brady continued “Recently I launched a substantial report into unlocking Arklow’s full potential. The report found that the key for unlocking Arklow's potential is the construction of the Waste Water Treatment Plant. I believe Wicklow County Council should now start granting planning applications that had been previously turned down due to a lack of a sewage treatment plant. Arklow needs housing along with industrial and commercial development; these applications can be conditioned on the actual delivery of the Sewage Treatment Plant.”

Brady concluded “I hope that people engage with the planning process and that any concerns that people may have will be addressed. The delivery of the Sewage plant is top priority to unlock Arklow’s full potential and cater for the needs of the town now and into the future.”