Galway City Council was expected to make a decision last night (Tuesday) or this morning regarding precautionary measures to be taken by the public at South Park in The Claddagh, following findings by an NUIG postgraduate student of possible heavy metal contamination of the soil.
The startling revelation was contained in the body of the Recreation, Amenity and Culture Quarterly Report presented at Monday's City Council meeting. Councillors were informed that Galway City Council was alerted to the PhD student's findings.
Officials discussed the situation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and an independent soil analysis was carried out, the details of which were submitted to the EPA.
It is understood that consultants engaged by Galway City Council are currently carrying out a site specific risk assessment at South Park. Following the completion of this further investigation and in consultation with the EPA and the Health Service Executive, Councillors will receive a report setting out the findings in late January or early February.
South Park was used as a landfill until it was reclaimed and used as a recreation facility 40 years ago.
Progressive Democrats City Councillor Donal Lyons has appealed to the Council to complete a risk assessment and undertake any remedial measures required in South Park as soon as possible.
According to Cllr Lyons, "One of the areas which gives rise to concern is that it was included in the quarterly report as a by the way.
None of the findings of the PhD student were made available to us. I was disappointed that the report wasn't reached on the agenda and as a result members raised the issue with the Director of Services, and he referred to the report."
Cllr Lyons posed the following questions, "What part of South Park is affected, or is it the whole area?
What was the content of the PhD student's report? Were dangerous metals found in South Park? And what did the EPA find?
The risk assessment needs to be completed without delay and the members of the City Council and the public should be made aware of the findings."
"We have seen the consequences of the remedial works carried out at the Carrowbrowne landfill, even though it closed a number of years ago. South Park is an important amenity, clubs use it as well as walkers.
If it needs to be closed, it should be closed and the remedial works needed to rectify the situation, should occur as soon as possible," he said.
Galway City Manager Joe MacGrath told the Galway Independent that the council were being proactive. "We are doing the assessment because it is necessary and because the EPA requires it.
We are also liaising with the HSE and taking their advice. We will be cautious because we have to be and we intend to keep the public informed regarding precautionary measures. The City Council cannot determine precisely the situation until the assessment is done.
When the assessment is complete, we will do a full report to the council."
Meanwhile, the HSE West is carrying out its own independent assessment and is acting in an advisory capacity to Galway City Council. It is in the process of quantifying the risk to human health associated with the hazard identified in the report to the council.
HSE West is advising the public not to collect or eat shellfish from the Claddagh area as a precautionary measure pending the analysis of shellfish samples in that area. HSE West is taking a number of additional actions, with a view to exploring and assessing any potential risks and implications for public health.
These actions include - Recommending that the City Council take all appropriate action to safeguard the health of the public, recommending that the scope of a consultant's brief, which has been commissioned by the City Council, be expanded to include the playground and residential area, ongoing consultation with and advice to City Hall, including site visits and meetings with City Council engineers, consultation and discussion with the author of the initial report.
It also recommends the establishment of a HSE West expert team, lead by environmental and public health specialists, independent analysis for heavy metals through a series of soil, grasses, kelp, dust and run off waters, consultation with key individuals, including the EPA and Health Protection Agency (UK) and advising Galway City Council to inform the public and erect public notices regarding restriction of the use of playing pitches and the use of the playground facility.
In a press release, the HSE West said it acknowledges and understands that the public may be concerned about the possible health implications of these initial findings, but it had no evidence to date of adverse health effects and is satisfied that the current measures, as advised, are sufficient to protect public health. The statement added hat the HSE West will continue to keep the public informed in relation to its ongoing investigation.
News RSS