Risk blueprint available to public one year after Clon flooding

A blueprint for flood risk management in a West Cork town will be available at a special public forum next week, more than a year after torrential flooding devastated Clonakilty.

Mott McDonald Consultant Engineers will make the presentation, next Tuesday, on the preferred flood risk management options.

Draft flood maps will also be on display. After the presentation, the data will go online for two weeks.

Town mayor Cllr Phil O’Regan urged local residents, business people and employees to attend the meeting and put forward any queries or suggestions. She said: “We need a long- term solution to flood events in Clonakilty. The objective is to try to mitigate the possibility of a repeat of the flood of June 28 last year.

“The OPW is the body charged with long-term solutions to flood risk management issues.

“There is not a single person in this town or for miles around who is not a stakeholder in this.”

She said tenants, house owners, business people and employees all had a stake in the meeting: “There will be a team of professionals sitting down here. People can examine the plans. There will be an exhibition of the draft flood maps and the OPW’s preferred flood risk management options both for the town and its hinterland.

“We cannot solve the flood risk in the town without dealing with the problems outside the town.

“People can ask any questions they like of these consultants. People who have lived in the town and know it and have had experience of flooding may well have views on the preferred options, which should be taken into account.

“It is very important that everyone has an input.

“In the intervening 12 months, we are extremely thankful that virtually every home and business premises has been substantially repaired. It could not have happened without the strength of will and commitment of the local community.”

She said the council undertook some infrastructural works while the town awaited the OPW’s deliberations on a long-term solution.

“We are very glad to acknowledge the huge support, financial and technical, we received from all official and statutory bodies. We thank Cork County Council and the OPW for their engagement with us in finding a long-term flood solution.”

*The presentation will be at O’Donovan’s Hotel, Clonakilty 3.30pm-9pm on Tuesday next.