THE people of Bantry should not pay their water bills, a councillor has suggested. Independent Cllr Michael Collins, has suggested that 'the entire area should be declared bill-free'.
BY JACKIE KEOGH
THE people of Bantry should not pay their water bills, a councillor has suggested.
Independent Cllr Michael Collins, has suggested that ‘the entire area should be declared bill-free’.
Speaking at a meeting of the West Cork Municipal District he said: ‘They are not getting an adequate service and should be bill-free until the problem is sorted.’
Mr Collins said continual breakages in the water supply, deplorable water quality in some areas, and a ‘moonscape’ road surface that cannot be repaired until the town’s water supply scheme is installed, are all good reasons why people shouldn’t pay.
The councillor also suggested that they send a letter to the Minister for the Environment asking for the Bantry Water System to be put on a priority list.
‘Some people don’t have water and any that do have muck coming through the tap,’ according to Mr Collins.
Cllr Mary Hegarty (FG) said she had raised the issue many times with Irish Water and was advised the Council and Irish Water were undertaking an advanced scheme which involves the replacement of 17.5km of watermains at various locations. ‘The project includes the replacement of 4km of watermains in poor condition in Bantry, including the replacement of 850m of watermains in Reenrour East Housing Estate,’ she said.
The commencement of construction is estimated to be ‘towards the end of 2015’.
