‘Sewage plant works will kill town’s summer business’

Tourist-reliant businesses in a seaside town fear many could go bust if a proposed €4.5m sewage treatment plant project goes ahead during the peak season.

Business leaders in Youghal, Co Cork, say they won’t accept plans which will virtually shut down most of the commercial area during July and August and hope the Irish Water-run project will be postponed at least until October.

Discussions have already taken place between Irish Water, Cork County Council and the project contractor to find a compromise.

Youghal Chamber of Commerce president Mark Golden said he’d voiced concerns about the timing of the project and the short timescale given to businesses to object.

“We all know this has to be done and we welcome it is being done. But we would far prefer it if it wasn’t done during the peak tourism period. This is our busiest time of the year and closing off roads and effectively shutting down the town centre is something we won’t stand for,” he said.

He said businesses on Strand St would suffer in particular, such as Clancy’s bar and restaurant, which opened last year, Tadhg Foley’s bar and restaurant, which only opened a week ago, and the Walter Raleigh Hotel.

Miceál O’Hurley, who runs Fantastic Flavours ice cream parlour and cafe on the town’s Main Street, said he was only warned of road closures 24 hours before the deadline to make a submission to the county council about them and this greatly angered him.

“My business survives on June, July and August, as do many of the other shops and restaurants in the town. If this goes ahead businesses which are barely hanging on will be driven out of business,” he said.

Barrister Aaron O’Sullivan, who was recently elected as a Fianna Fáil councillor for the area, said it was “completely unsatisfactory” that there was so little notice given to object to the proposed road closures.

He said on Monday he contacted the county manager’s office to relay his concerns as well as those of the community.

Mr O’Sullivan said he met with the county engineer, the contractor and a representative of Irish Water to discuss the issue.

“All are in agreement the works are necessary. However, the key issue is that businesses in Youghal are dependent on the summer season to see them through the winter months.”