Residents’ living hell in unfinished Galway housing estate

Residents of an unfinished housing estate in Craughwell are living with raw sewage flowing out of their toilets, and rats ‘the size of cats’ in their gardens.

And a HSE public health worker refused to allow a manhole cover be lifted on the estate because the pungent smell was so overpowering.

It has also been discovered that the sewerage system is close to overflowing on the roadways.

A report on the estate is currently being prepared by the HSE for consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency.

People living on the Dún Árd estate off the main road in the town have been battling for the past decade to have their estate finished after Harrmack Developments went into liquidation.

One homeowner has had to install a special pump to stop the overflow of raw sewage in their downstairs toilet – which now ends up in a soakpit under a common green in the estate because of a problem with the treatment plant.

Local area councillor Anne Rabbitte described conditions in the estate as “deplorable”.

“A number of residents have actual raw sewage coming into their homes from their downstairs toilets, which has left other residents living in fear of the same happening to them, meaning they have had to stop using facilities downstairs altogether.

“Residents have also reported that the waste has attracted rats the size of cats, which can be seen running around some back gardens.

“These are families – many with young children – living in a completely unacceptable situation. The health and safety risks involved are innumerable and it simply cannot be allowed to continue,” said Cllr Rabbitte.

She claimed the developers had been ordered by the court to carry out remedial works, but these have not occurred.

“The residents of Dún Árd are still in a living nightmare with no signs of waking up. This is 2015, how can this be allowed to happen?

“One house had to install a pump the in order to remove the raw sewage. Last week, two other householders got blockages and they are unable to flush their downstairs toilets.

“One got a drain cleaner to call out and it was confirmed to him that sewerage pipes which are 10ft deep are close to overflowing on the roadways,” said Cllr Rabbitte.

She added that a HSE worker called to the estate earlier this month to inspect the sewerage and rat problems.

“She refused for the man holes to be opened as the smell was so strong and she was in fear that a rat would hop out. Her report will be sent to the EPA.

“There is raw sewage flowing out of the top of the sewerage plant and this is flowing down to the river.

“Dun Ard in an estate in crisis, these residents have been failed. They are being forced to live in deplorable conditions. It’s now up to the HSE and EPA to assist in highlighting the plight of the residents,” said Cllr Rabbitte.