A FOUL odour is affecting businesses in Ardara, resulting in the loss of custom.
The claim was made at the September meeting of the Glenties Municipal District,
Independent Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig and Fianna Fáil Councillor Anthony Molloy both raised the issue at the meeting.
In raising the matter, Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said he had been contacted by several business owners whose customers had been effected by the odour.
Cllr Molloy, who hails from Ardara, said he had contacted Irish Water and received an email back. Cllr Molloy said he was advised by Irish Water that the odour arrives when pumping is done at a nearby water station.
Cllr Molloy told the meeting that Charlie Whyte’s cafe in the town had lost five customers on Saturday at 12 noon.
He said that the odour was in the air again on Monday evening.
“I have done my best to get support from Irish Water,” he said. “We are getting nowhere and the townspeople will have a petition signed and will take action themselves.
“The root cause is when the pumping or churning is taking place. If this could be done at some other night – and if it has to be done at nighttime then that’s what should be done.”
Michael McGarvey of Donegal County Council said that the local authority have liaised with Irish Water and will ‘try to progress the matter and get it moved forward’.
Irish Water say that they are aware of the issue and will carry out further investigations. They say that the matter is being ‘prioritised’.
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