Town’s plea for flood prevention works

Businesses and householders in a Co Cork town are pleading with the authorities to carry out interim flood prevention works before a major scheme is put in place.

The pleas were made yesterday, exactly 14 months after more than 60 homes and dozens of businesses in Glanmire were deluged by floods which measured up to five feet in places.

The plea was made after Cork County Council announced that it was now tendering for the appointment of consultants to draw up plans for a major flood protection project along the Glashaboy river.

Meadowbrook Residents’ Association secretary Ann Walsh said many of the 48 householders in that estate had been refused flood cover by insurance companies since the deluge of Jun 28, 2012.

As it could take several years for the flood prevention works to be completed, she said it was imperative that some interim measures be carried out to protect homeowners, especially as many were no longer covered by insurance.

She also added that it appeared that some insurance companies were unwilling to renew policies while other were.

“Every time you look out the window and there’s a drop of rain people get very worried. People have been cleaned out financially because of the flood. They have no savings left and are living in a twilight zone not knowing if this will happen again,” Ms Walsh said.

Her comments have been echoed by many business people, especially those who suffered severe losses in Sallybrook and at the Hazelwood Shopping Centre.

Billy Black, who runs Spick ‘N’ Span dry cleaners in the shopping centre, said he lost €140,000 of equipment during the last flood.

“I no longer have flood cover, like many other businesses in the area. If we were hit again that would be the end of my business,” Mr Black said.

“At the very minimum, the local authority should ensure that the river is constantly kept free of debris,” he added.

Glanmire Business Association Network spokeswoman Louise Opperman said her organisation would be pushing for interim measures as an absolute priority.

County engineer David Keane said the council was acting as an agent for the OPW and had received permission to seek the appointment of consultants to draw up the flood protection plans.

“We should have consultants appointed by Sep 20. We would hope because of the impact the flood had in the area the last time that we can start work as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Keane added the consultants would be asked to examine the feasibility of carrying out interim protective works.

The consultants will be asked to examine the length of the Glashaboy River from Carrignavar down to the tidal estuary at Tivoli.

As part of their remit they will look at installing flood forecasting equipment as well as permanent flood walls and embankments.