Green Light For €4.4m Project In Ballyshannon

By Eamonn McFadden

Tuesday 7th March 2006

(by kind permission of the Donegal Democrat)

The green light has been given for a Eur 4.4 million provision of a new sewerage network in Ballyshannon.

The announcement came from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and local Government Minister Dick Roche TD, that approval has been given to Donegal County Council to accept the tender by Wills Brothers Limited for the Eur 4,429,207.88 contract under the Department's Water Investment Services 2005-2007.

The scheme will involve the construction of 13.6km of foul sewers, 2km of storm drains and pumping stations.

The works will be connected to a new waste water treatment plant that is currently being sought, along with similar plants for Donegal Town and Rossnowlagh.

Wills Brother Ltd are currently completing the last stage of the N15 Ballyshannon bypass, which is due to be opened in a number of weeks.

Billy Grimes, chairman of Ballyshannon Town Council, welcomed the news and said the announcement provided a great opportunity to integrate a number of services infrastructure projects to minimise the disruption in the town.

"Beyond the announcement of the sewerage scheme, the more positive aspect is it would be the whole improvement of the town. The outskirts and the approaches to the town are almost complete and are superb, this scheme working in tandem with the National Roads Authority and the Broadband scheme, will give the centre of Ballyshannon the opportunity to do a once over job," explained Clr Grimes.

"If the sewerage scheme was delayed for any one reason or another it would have necessitated maybe double digging or even treble digging in the town centre. Hopefully we can now meet with all the agencies concerned with one entire budget to do a fantastic job in relation to the environmental works in and around the centre of Ballyshannon" he added.

He claimed the necessary major digging that is needed for the provision of the new sewer system would also be eased by the fact the Ballyshannon bypass is near completion and traffic will be diverted away from many of the areas the works will take place and he claimed he was very happy with the choice of company to complete the works.

"Wills Brother Ltd know the town of Ballyshannon and have a working relationship with the town council and the County council and anyone that has seen their work on the bypass will certainly say they work to the minimum of disruption and are very tidy contractors," said the Town Councillor.

Clr Grimes said the news would provide a major boost for the promotion of the town to residential and industrial development.

"It will help with the housing developments that are in plan for Ballyshannon. One of the things that would have inhibited that and held it back in relation to industrial and commercial life was the capacity of our present sewage scheme. With the new scheme it is projected ahead and we can seriously look at any form of Industry to come into the town, as well as private or residential," he concluded.

This article has been produced here by the kind permission of The Donegal Democrat




Back to Main Menu Page