Anger over Nenagh sewer damage

A local councillor has sought a report from Tipperary Co Council after a sewer line reportedly collapsed in a Nenagh housing estate, resulting in the emergence of rats.

It is understood that the rear of two houses in Cormack Drive became flooded with sewerage last week after a wastewater line became damaged. Local residents say the problem resulted from the main sewer collapsing during construction of 12 new houses that the council is adding to the estate.

Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Cllr Séamie Morris said he was contacted by residents on Monday fortnight last, who were “horrified by an infestation of large rats, probably also caused by the building works and damage to the main sewer”.

Cormack Drive resident Michael Ryan said repair workers had opened the sewer without informing anyone in the estate. He confirmed that rats were seen emerging from the opening and he wanted to know why pest control operators were not engaged as part of the process.

“It just further shows the lack of respect they have for people here,” said Mr Ryan, who has led local resident opposition to the building of the new houses. Among a series of objections he raised during the Part 8 public consultation process, Mr Ryan expressed concern over the sewerage infrastructure in the estate.

“I told them they were building on top of a sewer. They did nothing about it,” he said of his submission. Local residents also raised concerns about traffic management and access for emergency services.

“What happens if other things that we warned them about happen - like the ambulance or fire brigade can't get in some day? It's not good enough to totally dismiss you.”

Residents of Cormack Drive and the adjacent St Conlon's Road have mounted a legal challenge over the construction of the 12 new houses in the estate. It is understood that the case has come before the High Court on a number of occasions and had been adjourned pending a judicial decision.

Mr Ryan said the elected members of the council have as much to answer for in the case of Cormack Drive as the council itself. He said 36 of the 40 councillors had voted for the houses without seeing a report from Irish Water, or a traffic management report.

“These elected representatives voted for it knowing that none of these reports were in,” he claimed. “There is no point in having a Part 8 and people highlighting concerns if they're not listened to. It's a rush job to get it done, but it's the people here who are going to have to pay for it.”

In his correspondence with the council, Cllr Morris called for an immediate resolution of the sewerage problem and a report on how the main sewer became damaged.

A spokesperson for the council said the Housing section was made aware of an issue with the wastewater pipe on the previous Wednesday.

The pipe was surveyed the same day and the damaged section was replaced on Thursday. The scheme to build the 12 houses was referred to Irish Water at Part 8 planning stage in accordance with planning regulations; no comments were received from Irish Water.