Detroit water activists to visit Cork ahead of protest

Members of a US group dedicated to fighting water charges will come to Cork tomorrow to show their solidarity with people opposed to Irish Water’s metering.

Four members of the Detroit Water Brigade will be touring estates in Cobh where householders have been trying to prevent the company installing meters.

Justin Wedes, a member of Detroit Water Brigade, said the group was formed last spring as “a rapid relief and advocacy group fighting aggressive water shutdowns” in Detroit.

Utility companies in the that city have increased water bills and, according to Mr Wedes, about 40% of families cannot afford to pay, with the result that many have been cut off.

“We have been organising protests, rallies, and blockaded company trucks at their depots. We have also provided emergency water supplies to families and are working with them to get financial assistance so they can be reconnected,” he said.

They will arrive in Cobh at around 3pm and will tour estates holding out against Irish Water before addressing locals at a meeting in the town’s community centre.

“We are coming here to show solidarity with other brothers and sisters in Ireland and to campaign for them,” he said.

A major rally of water charge protesters is also planned later that evening at the Silver Springs Hotel.

Thousands of people from the Cobh and Midleton areas have signed a petition against water charges which has been delivered to Cork County Council, which acts as an agent for the utility company. The petition was delivered to the Mayor of County Cork, Alan Coleman, by Kieran McCarthy and Pat Buckley (SF). They urged him to pass them on to Environment Minister Alan Kelly and to convey the depth of feeling in the county against water charges.