Hoteliers fear flood barriers could devastate premises

THE owners of Clonmel’s largest hotel are warning the town’s proposed €30 million flood relief scheme could have catastrophic consequences for their establishment and could “wipe it out”.

The Nallen family, owners of the Hotel Minella, which has a full-time staff of 65 and is located on the banks of the River Suir, has now written to the Office Of Public Works (OPW) outlining their concerns and vowing to do everything they can to protect their property and livelihood.

The Nallens are concerned the OPW’s plans to protect the northern end of the town from severe flooding will have a negative knock-on effect to the southern part of Clonmel, where their hotel is located.

Their fear is that the embankments to be built as part of the flood relief scheme will drive water into their hotel. They are seeking to have the OPW indemnify them to the tune of €7m to €10m.

“That is what we estimate could be the damage a serious flood would cause to our hotel,” managing director John Nallen said.

In a letter to the OPW, the Nallens have warned they will hold the OPW responsible for any flood damage as a result of the flood relief scheme.

OPW officials have acknowledged the basement of the hotel could be threatened by a “one in 100 year” flood. They propose to prevent damage by installing sheet piping, as well as a pumping station.

However, Mr Nallen says that if the sheet piping didn’t work, the basement area could be devastated.

The basement contains all of the kitchen operations, two restaurants, a carvery, storage areas, cold rooms, a freezer, laundry, and the hotel’s electrical switchroom.

Hotel Minella cannot get insurance to cover flooding, and such an eventuality would be catastrophic for it.

“We’d be wiped out,” said John Nallen. “It would be the end of the hotel.”

Since the original hotel building was constructed more than 150 years ago it has never been breached by flood waters. However, floods in October 2004 brought water within inches of the hotel itself.

The Nallens fear new embankments will push the risk of flooding downstream in their direction.

Hotel Minella is currently carrying out an expansion programme of the premises, providing new bedrooms and suites.