Positive news for Mayo town's sewage treatment plant as surveying to start

SURVEYS and data collection works are to commence in Clew Bay in the coming weeks as part of the plans for a new sewage treatment plant in Newport.

Welcoming the news, Aontú TD Paul Lawless said: "I have been fighting tooth and nail to ensure that works could begin this summer on the sewage treatment plant for Newport, and I am delighted to report that steady progress is being made. It is very welcome news for the people of Newport.

“I have had multiple meetings with MARA (Maritime Area Regulatory) to try to get a timely decision in this case. In May, a licence was granted to allow Uisce Éireann to conduct studies on the bay to determine ocean currents and build a model for the treatment plant based on the data they obtain.

“I can report that the consultation phase has finished, and that this data collection process will begin in the coming weeks."

The project has faced many delays over the years and he thanked MARA for engaging with him.

“I am happy to report that Uisce Éireann are ready to begin the work. The timing of this with the summer months is excellent, because it means the weather should not create any further obstacles.”

Good progress is being made behind the scenes too, Deputy Lawless added, with Uisce Éireann already working on obtaining planning from MARA for a new pipeline across the Newport River which will form part of the project.

“It is great to see this work being done, even before we have the survey findings and indeed I know that significant work on the design of the plant is also going on behind the scenes.

“Everything appears to be springing into action finally after all these years and it is fantastic to see.”