County manager may ignore ban and dredge river
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) advised Cork County Council the local authority cannot dredge the river after October 1 as part of flood prevention works as it would interfere with spawning.
The council had sought to complete the works to help avert further flooding in the town which suffered millions of euro of damage during a deluge last November.
Two weeks ago, the council wrote to the minister in charge of IFI, Conor Lenihan, seeking a meeting in the hope of getting him to change IFI officials’ minds.
Councillors were angry yesterday over the receipt of a letter from Mr Lenihan in which he didn’t indicate if he was prepared to meet their delegation.
Cllr Veronica Neville (FG) described his letter as “a scandal” and accused Mr Lenihan of placing obstacles in the council’s way as the October deadline fast approached.
Mayor Jim Daly said: “We have three days left to the deadline, We have a duty to the people of Bandon,” he said.
Mr Riordan told councillors he was taking independent expert advice on the issue and this may include carrying out proposed works on the river.
