Hearing to discuss plan to use river for town’s water supply

A CONTROVERSIAL plan by Kerry County Council to abstract water from the River Sheen to supply the tourist town of Kenmare is the subject of a two-day planning hearing that starts today.

Development and planning applications in the town have virtually ground to a halt due to an inadequate public water supply, but there is local opposition to the council’s plan for the Sheen, which would supplement the current Lough Eirk source.

People in the rural area of Bonane in the Sheen catchment, Kenmare Chamber of Commerce and anglers are strongly objecting to the plan and suggest instead that the council investigate mountain lakes as sources.