Kells housing developments delayed by judicial reviews

Two proposed social housing schemes, which would provide 69 badly needed new homes for Kells, are being delayed by judicial reviews brought by local anglers concerned at what they say is an ever worsening sewerage problem in Kells.

Kells Anglers Association warn that a number of local houses are at risk of flooding and claim that up to 20 per cent of the entire raw sewerage load for Kells town is also being diverted away from the Kells Sewerage Plant directly into the Blackwater River.

However, councillors point out that four bodies, Uisce Éireann, Meath Co Council, the Environmental Protection Agency and An Bord Pleanála have said there is adequate capacity for additional development in Kells.

The anglers' legal action has angered local councillors who say the move will delay the provision of much needed social homes at a time when there are 529 applications for social housing in the Kells District.

Meath Co Council's proposed development at Carrick Street would see the construction of 36 new homes and the refurbishment of nine existing derelict units giving a total of 47 homes.

The proposed development at Archdeaconry Glebe would see the construction of 22 new residential units. Both projects recently received the go-ahead from An Bord Pleanala, but Kells Anglers have been granted a Judicial Review in the High Court.

Cllr Sean Drew has appealed to the anglers to reconsider their actions, which he said would impact people waiting on social housing for many years.

The Kells Anglers association have brought the proceedings over concerns about the increasing load on the local wastewater system.

They have stated there is an ever-worsening sewerage problem in Kells, with a rising number of complaints about foul smells, and blocked and overflowing sewers.

They point out a network upgrade report carried out by independent consultant Nicholas O'Dwyer in January 2020 said the Blackwater River was in unsatisfactory ecological condition at nine of the twelve stations surveyed in 2018 and Meath Co Council and Uisce Eireann have repeatedly confirmed in writing, that since the report’s publication in 2020, no works have been carried out.

They claim that up to 20 percent of the entire raw sewerage load for Kells town is being diverted away from the Kells Sewerage Plant directly into the Blackwater River via a storm water outlet on the Newrath Stream.

They question the veracity of figures for loads at the Kells Waste Water treatment plant (WWTP) pointing to a report which recorded a load of over 9,000PE (Population Equivalent) at the Kells plant in 2013, more than 1,000PE (13 per cent) above the its load capacity. They say that despite no increase in capacity, the Kells WWTP Annual Reports for 2017 and 2022 record a sewage load of just above 8,000PE, despite a nine percent population increase between 2016 and 2022.

“Kells Anglers are absolutely positively for the development of Kells, and that is why we have been forced to take this action; because for almost two decades Meath Co Council and now also Uisce Eireann, have completely ignored an ever-worsening sewerage problem.”

Cllr Drew said he had received written assurances from the EPA, Uisce Eireann and Meath Co Council that Kells WWTP has substantial spare capacity available and that the water quality was “Good Status upstream and downstream of the WWTP”.

“Sixty-nine new social homes in Kells cannot now commence and the start of building could be delayed for up to two more years. This means that 69 families/households on the council housing list for Kells will not receive keys to a new home.

“The long awaited and much needed regeneration of Carrick St and part of Maudlin St will be further delayed.

“A €23 million boost to the local economy during the construction phase of these developments will be lost.”

He pointed out that Kells Anglers have raised objections to a number of other recent planning applications in Kells, including some town centre infill sites, new housing estates and a major retail town centre development.

Cllr Paul McCabe expressed his disappointment at the stalling of the developments.

“Currently there are approximately 529 applications for social housing across the Kells Municipal District with the highest number of applications in Kells town of over 240. Across the county, there are approximately 4,000 people on the Meath Co Council social housing waiting list.

When contacted Meath Co Council said these matters should be referred to Uisce Éireann for response.

A spokesperson for Uisce Éireann said: “Planning objections in relation to housing developments in Kells, Co Meath are primarily a matter for Meath Co Council and/or An Bord Pleanála. In addition, Uisce Éireann is also now a party to a number of legal proceedings in relation to this matter. On those bases it would be inappropriate for Uisce Éireann to provide any comment at this juncture.”