Going through the motions








Now, here's a story by Olivia Kelly which, for all sorts of reasons — but mainly because of an anal-retentive sense of humour, Malcolm feels should not lurk unnoticed behind the Irish Times need to register:

Outcry over discharge of raw sewage into river

A poster protesting against the discharge of raw sewage into the Avoca river in Arklow, Co Wicklow, and the lack of any sewage facilities for the town, has been placed in the middle of the river.

The poster erected by Independent town councillor Peter Dempsey, shows a cartoon figure sitting on a toilet alongside the words: "Cut the crap, stop the objections, Arklow needs its sewage plant now."

A sewage treatment facility was originally planned for the town 14 years ago, but its development has been held up because of the council's site selection.

An Bord Pleanála finally granted permission for construction of the plant at Seabank, on the coast near Arklow town, in January 2005; however, the decision was appealed to the High Court by Arklow Holidays Ltd, a company that owns a caravan park at Seabank.

The case will come before the court again on July 10th and work cannot commence on the plant unless the court besides against the appellants.

Mr Dempsey said the delays were unacceptable. "While this is being dragged through the courts, turds are running down the river less than 30ft from people's front doors," he said.

The smell from the river was particularly bad during the summer months, he said, in addition to the public health risks posed by raw sewage.

"The stink is absolutely vile. We're going to have a typhoid epidemic on our hands unless something is done about this."

Hark! As Malcolm croons Tom Moore:

Sweet Vale of Avoca! How calm could I rest
In thy bosom of shade, with the friends I love best
Where the storms that we feel in this cold world would cease
And our hearts, like thy waters, be mingled in peace.

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