Objectors to a near-completed motorway plaza on the outskirts of Ennis insist they hope to have high court action relating to wastewater treatment wrapped up in a matter of months, not years.
Fresh doubt has been cast on the future of Supermac’s ten million euro development just off junction 12 of the M18, which is due to open at the end of October.
Friends of the Irish Environment commenced action against Uisce Éireann, for its decision to grant a wastewater connection.
Supermac’s ten million euro motorway service station, which is located just off junction 12 of the M18 is almost finished construction and is set to provide up to 120 jobs when operational at the end of October.
The project has already been the subject of a full judicial review, but now the Friends of the Irish Environment has launched High Court legal action against Uisce Éireann over its recent connection agreement.
The environmental group claims the Clareabbey Plant is already operating above capacity and that it’s regularly discharging raw or partially treated sewerage into the River Fergus.
In September of last year, the High Court rejected similar arguments and confirmed the decisions of Clare County Council and An Bord Pleanála.
The judgement noted that there was no evidence to support the suggestion that the treated water from the Plaza would adversely affect the output from the Clareabbey treatment plant.
Environmental activist and one of the Directors of the Irish NGO Friends of the Irish Environment, Tony Lowes says, however, the EPA has since uncovered evidence that suggests storm water overflows and overcapacity.
He says he understands the frustration of the applicant, but the state cannot continue to allow people to connect to plants that aren’t working properly.
Supermac’s says it’s difficult to understand why, after a decade of scrutiny and with the project now substantially completed, a third party who has not been involved until now, would seek to challenge decisions that have already been conclusively dealt with.
In a statement to Clare FM, the company goes on to say that such actions undermine the integrity of the planning system, which is designed to provide certainty once decisions have been made and upheld at the highest levels.
It also says they’ve always complied fully with the statutory process and will continue to do so, but they believe it makes a mockery of the system if projects can be endlessly delayed by repeated challenges long after decisions have been made, tested, and confirmed.
A former Mayor has slammed the environmental groups decision to challenge the wastewater connection for the development as “ridiculous” and insists it should be dismissed.
Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly believes it’s unnecessarily putting jobs in jeopardy.
Uisce Éireann, meanwhile, has declined to comment at this time due to the issuing of legal proceedings.
The case returns to the High Court on September 15th.
Statement from Supermac’s
Supermac’s notes with concern the proposed judicial review by Friends of the Irish Environment regarding the connection agreement with Irish Water for the new Plaza at Junction 12 on the M18.
This project has already been the subject of detailed consideration and a full judicial review.
In September of last year, the High Court rejected similar arguments and confirmed the decisions of Clare County Council and An Bord Pleanála. The judgement noted that there was no evidence to support the suggestion that the treated water from the Plaza would adversely affect the output from the Clareabbey treatment plant.
The Plaza at Junction 12 is one of the most intensely scrutinised planning applications ever brought forward in the region. Over the past ten years, it has been the subject of countless environmental and planning assessments, reviewed in detail by the relevant authorities, and ultimately confirmed by the High Court.
It is difficult to understand why, after a decade of scrutiny and with the project now substantially completed, a third party who has not been involved until now, would seek to challenge decisions that have already been conclusively dealt with.
Such actions undermine the integrity of the planning system, which is designed to provide certainty once decisions have been made and upheld at the highest levels.
Supermac’s has invested over €10 million in the Plaza at Junction 12 to date. The development is due to open at the end of October, will create 120 jobs, and will provide vital services for motorists and communities in the Midwest region.
We have always complied fully with the statutory process and will continue to do so. However, we believe it makes a mockery of the system if projects can be endlessly delayed by repeated challenges long after decisions have been made, tested, and confirmed.
