Flood works revealed after criticism

A package of flood risk management measures have been drawn up to help protect one of Cork City’s most flood-prone communities.

Details of the works in Blackpool village were released over the weekend following criticism from the Blackpool Flood Action Group for what it called City Hall’s failure to deliver on “agreed” emergency action measures.

Frustration with the lack of physical flood prevention works spilled over last Thursday when local residents and business owners blocked traffic in protest.

It prompted Cork City Council’s director of services in environment and recreation, Jim O’Donovan, to brief local councillors over the weekend on the latest position.

“The annoyance and frustration of traders and residents is understandable in the absence of physical works in the area,” he said.

He confirmed that arising out of the March flood, RPS Consulting Engineers prepared a draft report which recommends:

- The existing trash screen at Orchard Court should be removed;

- Service crossings in the culvert system should be removed;

- Roughing screens should be provided upstream of the culvert inlet;

- CCTV and water level monitoring should be put in place here to monitor the roughing screens;

- A programme of stream and screen clearance of debris downstream of the Glenamought confluence with the River Bride should be put in place;

- A monthly programme of inspection should take place;

- The existing culvert system should be surveyed for sediment build-up, with sediment reduction works carried out as necessary. Sediment traps should be provided if necessary.

Mr O’Donovan said talks are already under way with the ESB to remove ducting in Blackpool Bridge to facilitate the removal of the Orchard Court screen.

But he stressed that these recommendations only deal with the impact of trash screens on the mechanics of a flood.

The broader issues of channel capacity, catchment management, and flood prediction or flood alerts is being dealt with by the OPW’s Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Alleviation Scheme study which began in May, he said.

Local anger flared last week over the apparent lack of action.

The flood action group criticised the lack of work, given a commitment from the city manager after the last flood to make €100,000 available to carry out remedial works.

Mr O’Donovan said the council had to first establish what technical solutions would work best short term, pending the identification of long-term solutions by the Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Meanwhile, contractors carried out works in the river and on the banks in the Orchard Court area over three days last week.

River level monitoring gauges have been installed on the Bride and the Glenamought, to provide data for computer models which will inform the development of long-term engineering solutions.