RESIDENTS of a housing development in Garrison could be left without any sewage treatment works if power is imminently disconnected from the sewage treatment plant on the site, as the plant’s electricity bills haven’t been paid in almost a year.

It is understood that Ravensbrae housing development was bought by Gallen Developments after it was repossessed by a bank when the previous developer went bankrupt.

The development’s sewage treatment plant was built by the first developer, but was not adopted at that stage.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, a resident of the Ravensbrae development, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed that the current developer – Gary Gallen, of Gallen Developments – was responsible for the running costs of the sewage treatment plant.

However, the resident alleged: “The developer stopped paying the electric [bills on the plant] 10 months ago.

“He’s left Power NI with a bill of more than £3,000 owing ... because when he bought the development, he was handling whatever it costs to run [the sewage plant],” claimed the resident.

The Impartial Reporter contacted the current Ravensbrae developer, Gary Gallen, about the issues raised about the site.

Mr. Gallen claimed: “I finished the development two years ago, and paid the electricity for two years, then set up a management company and all the residents are members of it.

“When you buy a house you have to pay the management fees, that was explained to them at the time of purchase. They are all shareholders of it.”

He further claimed: “I have paid the electricity bill out of my own finances, and to such an extent that I had to go to Dublin to work to pay it off, but I just can’t afford it any more. I just don’t have the money.”

A Power NI spokeswoman said: “Over the past year, Power NI has been in contact with the developer and residents of Ravensbrae, in addition to NI Water and local councillors, more than 50 times to try to resolve the issue of outstanding electricity costs for several thousand pounds for electricity supply to the sewer works for the development.

“While electricity supply is one issue, the bigger health and safety issue is the fact that, as we understand it, there is currently no maintenance or upkeep taking place for the sewer works.

“Normally, in cases like this, the solution is that the sewer works is adopted by NI Water.

“Despite our best efforts, as no one has stepped forward to take responsibility, the only option is disconnection of electricity supply to the works.”

The Impartial Reporter also contacted NI Water about the Ravensbrae development and related issues.

When asked if the developer, Gallen Developments, had approached the utility to get the sewage treatment plant adopted, a NI Water spokesperson said: “NI Water has not been approached by the developer to adopt the waste water treatment works and associated sewers.

“To adopt this, the developer would need to apply for an Article 161 agreement, and submit detailed plans of their proposal in advance for approval by NI Water.

“[However] NI Water has no Article 161 agreement in place for the adoption of the works.

“As long as the site remains unadopted, the maintenance, upkeep and any associated running costs of this is a private matter.”

The Ravensbrae residents have been been supported by a number of politicians, including local SDLP Councillor Adam Gannon, who is concerned that if and when the plant power is disconnected, residents will be left without any sewage treatment works.

He said: “After a certain length of time [following electricity disconnection], there will be a build-up in the sewage treatment plant and possibly pollution and spills from that, so it’s not a good situation at all,” he said.

“This happened a number of years ago with the previous developer, and when it happened then, power was shut off, and there was no sewage treatment plant for an extended period of time there.

“The long-term solution really is to get the estate hooked into the mains, and what we need is Garrison waste water treatment mains to be upgraded,” said Councillor Gannon.

Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan presented a public petition with regard to the adoption of the sewage treatment plant in Ravensbrae to the Assembly last week, in which she stated: “The waste water treatment works serving Garrison has been at capacity now for two decades.”

Citing the sewage plant at the development, and its lack of adoption by NI Water, she said: “This has left the Garrison community and natural environment around the village with a ticking health and ecological time bomb on its doorstep.”

She asked the Minister for Infrastructure to instruct NI Water to upgrade the sewage treatment plant in Ravensbrae to NI Water standard, and adopt it.

“If this is impossible, for whatever reason, the least that the ratepayers of Ravensbrae and Garrison expect is that the Department of Infrastructure, through NI Water, take over the management of it until the mains sewage system is updated and extended in Garrison,” said Ms. Dolan.