Call to Enda Kenny ahead of floods as ‘livelihoods at stake’ in Athlone
Paul lives in one of the estate’s 12 houses with his wife Irene and daughters Lucy, 6, Sally, 5, and Rose, 4. The estate was built in the 1970s but only flooded for the first time in 2009. Three of the houses are rented and the rest are owner occupied.
There is a strong sense of community in the small cul-de-sac, where residents were out on the street chatting, drinking tea, and checking on their flood defences.
Independent councillor Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran challenged Taoiseach Enda Kenny to visit Athlone. “He should be down here tonight, tomorrow morning. Come and see the people. There’s people’s livelihoods at stake,” he said.
Mr Fleming built his own defences following the 2009 floods. He raised his garden, built a solid concrete wall around his house and has pumps ready at two drains in his garden.
Pointing out the height of an electricity box outside a house, he said he fears the electricity will be cut off if the water continues to rise. If so, he will need diesel-powered pumps to keep the water out of his garden and his family will have to move to alternative accommodation.
The neighbours have been manning the pump for days and are eager for the Defence Forces to arrive in the area. “People are exhausted and overall this community is pretty old, if you had the army at least there would be a bit more vigour,” he said.
A short distance away staff at Deerpark Windows were attempting to pump water away from the business. “We are fighting a losing battle,” said company director Anthony Grehan. “I would imagine it is going to get higher. We are surrounded on four sides.”
In recent days business has ceased as all staff have been busy trying to prevent the flood and move stock to safety, said Mr Grehan.
“There’s no insurance here, we have to help ourselves,” he said.
Around the corner, on Deerpark Road, the thrum of diesel powered pumps can be heard. Water rises up through drains and is coming perilously close to some of the houses as residents, volunteers, and council staff continue to battle the floods.
Back on the west side of town, director of services with Westmeath County Council Barry Kehoe was assessing the situation at The Strand and Wolfe Tone Terrace, where the army was placing sandbags.
Mr Kehoe said the latest forecasts indicate that the water will rise by a further 400cm by next Monday, equalling the November 2009 flood levels when over 100 houses flooded.
“If that level is reached it is going to be extremely difficult, if not to impossible, to stop a substantial number of houses from getting flooded,” he said.
