Offaly water to solve Ballinahown supply problems

Water will be piped from Offaly to supply householders in the Ballinahown area in the next few days, a local councillor said this week as a medium-term solution to the area"s supply problems after mechanical issues at the village"s pumphouse cut the water over a week ago. A boil water notice had been in place in Westmeath"s tidiest village prior to that. Councillor John Dolan told the Westmeath Independent this week that the laying of emergency mains pipe to connect in with the Ferbane/Clara water scheme near Doon was complete ahead of schedule, and following a pressure test the water will be piped from there to Ballinahown village. As part of the works the N62 was closed to traffic last Thursday and for a number of days afterwards, a move that angered a number of local businesses who rely on passing traffic for the majority of their custom. 'The reason the road closed is for health and safety reasons. It has created some pain for some people, I acknowledge that but as far as I know traffic lights will operate there from today (Tuesday) meaning traffic will be able to get through,' he said. He paid tribute to the council, who acted swiftly to source an alternative water supply and have actually completed the work ahead of the September 20 schedule first envisaged. A temporary tapped water supply from the tankers in the village provided by the Council will continue to operate from 7am-7pm daily until the Offaly water connection is up and running. Meanwhile, a local businessman has said trade at a newly opened cáfe in Ballinahown was down 90% last week, after the closure of the N62. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent late last week, Italian Gustavo Gaetani, who operates the Core Craft Cafe in the village said he relied on passing trade for the majority of his custom and this has been wiped out in the last week with the emergency closure of the stretch on Tuesday. 'I am only open five weeks and I depend on traffic for business. The buses cannot get through either so there are no tourists. Businesses are unhappy,'he said. Mr Gaetani said there was no notice or timetable from the Council in relation to closure either, except that the road needed to be shut for health and safety reasons. 'If it was just one day it would be ok but it has been a week now. I understand something had to be done with the water but it is my business, I have rent to pay, the bank and food and cakes had to be thrown out. I"m losing money and it also affects staff. The council need to think about this. They are faraway from the people, there is no communication,' he continued.