Over €90k raised for 'Save Kilkee Cliff Walk' campaign ahead of High Court review

Part of  the cliff walk near Kilkee, Co Clare, which locals believe is at risk of being destroyed by a waste water treatment plant proposed by Uisce Éireann.

Over €90,000 has been raised to fund a High Court judicial review against the construction of a waste water treatment plant in Kilkee, Co Clare.

The campaign Save Kilkee Cliff Walk was set up by concerned locals who believe the cliff walk, located on the Wild Atlantic Way, is at risk of being destroyed by a plant proposed by Uisce Éireann.

While Uisce Éireann says the facility is needed as untreated wastewater from the seaside town is currently being discharged into the sea, locals say the proposed facility on Dunlicky Road is not an appropriate location, and will impact tourism.

So far, over €91,000 has been raised to fund a judicial review, due to be heard in front of the High Court on June 17.

The review was sought by six concerned locals who have been running the campaign, Save Kilkee Cliff Walk, for about the last two years.

Clare County Council refused planning permission for the development after receiving almost 90 formal objections. This was appealed by Uisce Éireann, and the decision was overturned by An Bord Pleanála.

The development would see open tanks of sewage being located nearby on Dunlicky Road.

“If this sewage plant is built on Dunlicky Road, the cliff walk will be irreversibly damaged and will change the visual landscape forever. Under the Waste Water Directive this plant does not meet the EU standards before it’s even built," the campaign group said.

"If the plant has any electrical or pump failures its design is to release sewage into the Victoria Stream which flows onto the Kilkee beach, which will result in closure and loss of the Blue Flag status,” the statement added.

The campaign was supported by several members of the family of the late actor Richard Harris. In total, they donated €20,000 to the Save Kilkee Cliff Walk fundraiser in the last week.

The fundraising page was reignited a couple of weeks ago, ahead of the High Court judicial review.

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Due to take place on June 17, the review will assess whether or not An Coimisiún Pleanála erred in its review process.

The organisers have said that while their initial funding target was reached to allow a legal challenge, funds will be used to defend their case as “high court proceedings are not cheap”.

“From a full transparency perspective we will produce a full audited financial statement to verify all funding has been used in a proper manner when our legal defence is complete,” they said.