By Cianna McNally

The new waste water treatment plant planned for Castleblayney is expected to cost in the region of four – six million euro.

Executive Engineer with Monaghan County Council Cathal O’Flynn gave a presentation on the project to members of Castleblayney Town Council at their May monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, 25 May. Also present at the meeting were Fiona Lane and Gerry Monaghan from Nicholas O’Dwyer and Co, Consulting Engineers. The new plant which will be located at Lakeview will be designed to meet the expanding needs of the town in future years.

Details from the Environmental Impact Statement and the application to An Bord Pleanala were also outlined at the meeting. It is anticipated that the approval of tender will be dealt with next year and the contract awarded in 2012. It is hoped that Stage One will be completed by 2013. The council heard that a preliminary cost figure in relation to Phase 1 of the project was estimated at €4 million with additional stages increasing the cost to €5m - €6m

Councillors Gary Carville and Aidan expressed reservations about the way in which the project was proceeding. Cllr Carville said that while he understood the need for the upgrading of the plant, the presentation to Castleblayney Town Council should have happened long before Tuesday’s meeting. “Our role as representatives of the people of this town is not being taken seriously. This presentation is a result of us needing to know,” the Fine Gael councillor declared. The lack of communication, he added, had resulted in people from the Market Square and Lakeview areas contacting councillors for clarification of the plant’s site and the exact land involved as some areas had been previously zoned by the council for tourism purposes. Cllr Campbell agreed with his party colleague’s views. Responding to a request from some councillors, Mr Flynn said that copies of the presentation would be given to them.

Mr Flynn also rejected claims that property owners were not informed of the plans saying that all owners had been contacted within the last four months. He also added that only three people had turned up to a previously arranged consultation on the waste water treatment plant.