There would appear to be a lack of assessment and action by the Donegal County Council Planning Department on the Environmental and Health & Safety concerns outlined in the planning objection.

These include Potential Amplified Flooding concerns, due to relatively newly built riverside embankment. This riverside embankment was subsequently further developed and enlarged in both height and depth during the planning application process. Donegal County Council was informed of this onsite development during the planning process.

1. Potential Amplified Flooding of multiple Elderly Residents
2. Potential Amplified Flooding of Riverside Park Estate (50+ Defective Blocks Homes)
3. Potential Amplified Flooding upstream of Shamrock Park (Clonmany Shamrock FC) and the adjacent Clonmany Community Centre
4. Potential Amplified Flooding upstream of Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant

Office of Public Works – FloodInfo.ie Map

 

The flood risk to Elderly Residents and Defective Blocks affected Riverside Park Estate is clearly evident and the devasting flood of 22/08/2017 demonstrates and substantiates these flood risks. At this time, the Irish Government provided humanitarian aid and other supports to the area. The Donegal County Council Flood Zone Map (below) shows increased risk of flood to the Riverside Park Estate compared to the OPW FloodInfo.ie map. Evidence will also be provided to show that the flood levels in the 2017 flood, greatly exceeded those depicted in these flood zone maps.

Riverside Park Estate : Flood Zone Map in DCC ‘Planner’s Report and Recommendation’ report with corresponding Bing Maps satellite image.

 

When we apply similar comparison to the Shamrock Park, Clonmany Community Centre and the Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant (Yellow X), we can see a substantial increased risk of flood compared to the OPW FloodInfo.ie map.

Flood Zone Map in DCC ‘Planner’s Report and Recommendation’ report with corresponding Bing Maps satellite image.
Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant – Yellow X

 

The ‘Night of the Big Flood’ video provides eyewitness accounts to the flooding of the ‘Clonmany Community Centre’ and ‘Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant’ (20:00) and ‘Riverside Park’ (15:15). The eyewitness account details the cross contamination of flood water and the Wastewater Treatment Plant : ‘water mixed’ and ‘black scum’.

By virtue of the Clonmany Community Centre and the Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant being flooded, Shamrock Park (Clonmany Shamrocks FC) would also have been flooded.

 

 

 

 

Make an environmental complaint | Environmental Protection Agency

In regards to the concern raised in the planning objection dated 03/04/2024, pages 9 and 10 regarding potential amplified flooding upstream at the Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant, the following EPA procedures have been followed

• Contact the business causing the problem.
• Clonmany Enterprise Development Ltd Director informed 19/03/2024
• Planning Development Architect Informed 20/03/2024
• No remedial actions forthcoming
• Contact the relevant local authority.
• Raised in my planning submission (03/04/2024)

 

“Your local council is responsible for dealing with complaints that do not involve a site regulated by the EPA.

• If the issue involves an EPA regulated site, the local authority will pass on your complaint to the EPA for a response.”

 

 

Has the Local Authority, Donegal County Council, passed on this concern/complaint to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

 

Given the concerns about upstream potential amplified flooding of the Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant, should Inland Fisheries Ireland also be contacted and alerted to the potential additional ‘Fisheries’ risks to the Clonmany River from this manufactured riverside embankment?

 

Has the Inishowen Rivers Trust been notified of the construction of this riverside embankment?