The residents of Ravensbrae have been left high and dry following the disconnection of the power to the sewage treatment plant (STP) on their development which could lead to significant health and environmental issues in the development and in the wider Garrison area.

It begs the question, who is going to take charge of this issue and help these residents obtain a long-term solution?

Take responsibility

Bernadette McGuinness, a resident of Ravensbrae who purchased her house in 2016 from Gallen Developments Ltd through Keown Auctioneers in Corry, Belleek, is adamant that the developer should be taking responsibility for the running costs and the maintenance of the STP.

The developer Gary Gallen disputes this, claiming that responsibility is that of the management company he set up for the development, which is called Ravensbrae Commons Area Ltd. However residents of only 13 out of the 20 properties on the development are shareholders, as the seven other properties were sold by a previous developer.

Mr. Gallen is currently the director of the management company.

Mrs. McGuinness is one of the shareholders of the management company. She told The Impartial Reporter: “We were only made aware of the Ravensbrae Commons Area Ltd after we had committed to the sale and paid our deposit but we were assured by Gary Gallen of Gallen Developments that the STP would be taken over by NI Water the following January 2017. When this did not happen we were told again by Gallen that it was because Stormont was not sitting and this would hold everything up.

“We were aware that every home owner would have to pay in the region of £250 per year towards the upkeep of the common areas and the STP plant until such time as it was adopted by NI Water.

“We understood that these contributions would not take place until the site was completely finished with everything meeting the required standards and officially handed over,” she said.

Last week Power NI disconnected the power supply to the pumping station at the STP due to outstanding electricity bill.

“It will not be long before raw sewage backs up through the manholes on the road and possibly into residents homes which poses a huge health risk to all the residents in Ravensbrae,” said Mrs. McGuinness, who explained that it has already been established that as far back as 2012 there has been leakage from the STP into a river that leads to Lough Melvin.

Secretary of the Garrison and Lough Melvin Anglers Association, Joe Gilroy commented on the impact of this on angling in the area. He said: “It is discharging into a spawning river that we would be relying on for the spawning of fish, to keep the lake going and the stocks of fish up.

Pollution

“With any case of pollution it will cause eutrophication of the river and no oxygen for the small juvenile fish to survive, explained Mr. Gilroy, going on to highlight how Lough Melvin is famous for two rare types of fish: “The Sonaghan Trout, which is native to Lough Melvin and the Gillaroo Trout as well. Lough Melvin is the only place that you can find the Gillaroo and the Sonaghan.”

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter on Wednesday, Sinn Fein MLA Jemma Dolan says she is still waiting on the Minister for Infrastructure to come back to her regarding the petition she submitted which called for Mrs. Mallon to instruct NI Water to adopt the STP at Ravensbrae.

“I am really disappointed. I think that is three weeks now so I was expecting an answer in that period of time. I will continue to put pressure on her to give me a response on it,” said Ms. Dolan.

In a bid to help protect the local environment and raise attention of the issues with the STP in Ravensbrae, Mrs. McGuinness is calling on all the people of Garrison to support the residents of the housing development.

“Contact your local council and Environmental health and report any offensive odours or raw sewage pollution. It is up to all of us as residents of Garrison to protect our environment,” she appealed.