A BID by a residents’ association outside Wexford town to block a housing development in the area has been rejected by An Bord Pleanála, despite concerns of potential exposure to anthrax.
An Bord Pleanála and the Health Service Executive have agreed it is likely there is an anthrax burial site within the development site which could pose a risk to locals and those building the new estate if disturbed.
William Neville and Sons Construction Limited have been given permission for 118 houses and a creche on a site of almost 22 acres between the Mulgannon road and the Rosslare road. One of the many grounds of the appeal stated that an anthrax burial site is either within or touching the boundary of the site and that following an anthrax outbreak in 1911, 36 cattle belonging to Richard Richards were buried on his land at Mulgannon. Residents say they are aware of the location of one of the pits, but not the other.
According to local reports, a then employee of Mr Richards, Patrick Foley, contracted anthrax (a bacterial disease that humans can contract directly or indirectly from animals) at the time, but recovered with medical treatment.
Dr Julie Heslin, consultant in public health medicine, and John Redmond, senior environmental health officer, made a submission on behalf of the HSE in relation to the anthrax concerns.
“It is noted that Anthrax spores can survive many decades, but it is not clear if they would survive 90 years. If anthrax spores still exist in soil then any disturbance of this soil by development could result in human exposure,” said the HSE, which concluded that there is “a residual risk of anthrax spores being present in the soil”.
Planning inspector Kenneth Moloney acknowledged that “human contact with the soil of the anthrax burial site could potentially result in the human contracting the disease”.
“It is considered, in the interest of public health, and if the board were considering granting permission, that it would be reasonable to attach a condition to the permission requiring the developer to provide for a health and safety plan,” Mr Moloney added.