Subsidence causes sewage back-up in Kerry estate

Land subsidence is causing serious problems, including sewage back-up, in an unfinished housing estate in Co Kerry.

Residents from Oakwood Manor, Kenmare, told a meeting of the South and West Kerry Municipal Authority, they had been putting up with problems for up to nine years and were at their wit’s end.

A site resolution plan was submitted to Kerry County Council by the bondholder last week and is being examined by engineers.

Spokesman for the residents, Timmy Palmer, said subsidence was at the root of ongoing difficulties in the 44-house estate and the ground had sunk by about a metre in some sections.

Sewage is coming up through manholes and pouring into potholes on the road, making parts of the estate a “no-go” area at times.

The sewage had to be pumped clear every two to three months, he added.

Mr Palmer also said some of the 120 residents were getting excessively high gas bills due to the ground subsidence pulling on the pipes and that was also leading to safety concerns.

“The subsidence is getting worse and, with about 30 children in the estate, people are very conscious of the dangers and health hazards,” he said. “Even walking in the estate can be dangerous, with sections of paths collapsing.”

Some councillors raised questions about the granting of planning permission on the land, given obvious problems with subsidence.

Council director of services Donal Murphy told the meeting there was active engagement by the bondsman, a site resolution plan was submitted and geotechnical expertise would be required to solve the problem.

Also, if the remedial works cost more than the bond, it was more than likely that only the bond would be paid, he pointed out.