' A hellhole': Disused Longford piggery has created hell for people who live in the area

A councillor has called on the local authority to write to two Government ministers to ask them to provide funding for remedial works to address a disused and abandoned piggery in Newtowncashel and prevent a 'major environmental disaster'.

The Cathaoirleach of Ballymahon Municipal District, Councillor Martin Skelly submitted the motion in relation to the issue and it was discussed at the recent December meeting and he asked that 'something would finally' happen to address it.

He called on Housing and Local Government Minister James Browne and Environment Minister Darragh O'Brien to provide funding.

Cllr Skelly commented last October how heavy rain following Storm Amy, had seen effluent from the disused piggery seeping into the drains and he reiterated his significant concern during the recent Ballymahon MD meeting with even stronger comments.

"This financial assistance is required to prevent a major environmental disaster in the area, which is on the shores of Lough Ree.

"I'm sure this has been on the table before but there is not a lot happening and in fact, as we speak, if we were to drive over there today there is sludge emanating from the disused piggeries, it's just an absolute disaster.

"It has created hell, a hellhole for people that live in the area and Newtowncashel, without going overboard, is quite a beautiful village and it's a lovely place to live, but this is just one area and it's a shame the way it is."

Cllr Skelly said there has been remedial work done and tanks emptied but the bottom line is "there hasn't been a solution and there needs to be a final solution on this to give the people of Newtowncashel back the environment and the area that they deserve".

The motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Paul Ross who said it is a "huge issue" that is going on 10 years but 'nothing' has really happened.

"There are still environmental issues there leading into Lough Ree, the River Shannon.

"If that was a privately owned site and it was a farmer he he would be almost arrested at this stage."

Fianna Fáil Cllr Mick Cahill and his party colleague Cllr Sean Mimnagh also both stated the disused piggery had been a problem for a long number of years.

Social Development Director of Services Samantha Healy told councillors the executive members would support them in writing to the ministers.

"We would have undertaken site remediation survey work through an appointed consultant three or four years ago now and the total cost identified for remediation was just shy of €2 million," she added.

Ms Healy stated in 2023 and 2024 the executive wrote to the Department of Local Government and Heritage requesting funding support to remediate that site.

"In the absence of funding to remediate the site we have looked at some issues that were out there, we have performed multiple site visits and inspections, we have dealt with some dangerous structure complications that are out on the site and we do continue to remove sludge from the tanks on a regular basis.

"Obviously, when there are storm events or heavy rainfall the tanks can fill a lot quicker, but we have sent in regional tankers when that is needed.

"There is urgency to remediate the site, it remains a risk both to the environment, but also the site itself is deteriorating in terms of the structures on the site.

"The environmental section do everything they can to keep those to a minimum.

"It is something that we need to resolve and so any weight that you can add to that in terms of requesting funding, writing to the minister or requesting a meeting would be very much welcomed."

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