Update

In the ecovillage there are sites that already have planning permission, and have done for five years or more. As none have been sold or built on yet, the ecovillage is seeking to extend the permissions. A couple of people suggested we should look at these sites as an alternative. Liam worked on some adjustments to the plans for one of the sites but that didn’t really work for us, neither did any of the other sites.

 

The ecovillage was going to see if one of the planning permissions to be extended could be surrendered and ours approved instead.

 

Meantime we’re hoping progress has been with the relevant permissions and licences for the ecovillage treatment plan, and that the Water Department are happy that the treatment samples they are receiving meet their requirements.

 

A couple of weeks ago, Liam and the representative of a wastewater treatment company got together. It seems that the company could put in a single system for 38/39 but the site is very tight to get the necessary percolation area. The company looked at the stream and said that up North systems go in to streams a lot smaller. What would be best would be a separate domestic system for 38/39 discharging directly into the stream. Technically, this would work. Irish Water would need to agree and we would need to apply for a discharge license. If Irish Water agreed the Water Department should accept it and we could go back to planning and see if they would accept it. There is a major spanner in the works cost wise - this solution could cost a lot