Flood-hit area to be prioritised in prevention plan

The minister with responsibility for flood protection has agreed to prioritise a plan for the Blackpool area of Cork City.

Brian Hayes told a delegation from the area yesterday that he had asked the OPW to instruct consultants, due to be appointed within two weeks, to complete a flood management plan for the Lee catchment, to focus specifically on finding a solution to repeated flooding in Blackpool.

The area was swamped by up to 4ft of water last Thursday night — the second flood to hit the area in nine months, and the fourth major flood in a decade.