Traders plead for flood defences to be fast-tracked

Flood-hit traders in Cork City, who are bracing for more misery tonight, have pleaded with the Government to fast-track the delivery of a multi-million flood defence plan.

As a major clean-up operation continued in the city after the latest tidal flood to hit businesses, forecasters warned that even more parts of the city could be hit by floods from 7.30pm tonight.

Low-lying areas including South Terrace, Trinity Bridge, Rutland St, Cotter St, Stable Lane, Union Quay, Morrison’s Quay, Proby’s Quay, French’s Quay, Crosses Green, Sharman Crawford St, Wandesford Quay, Lavitts Quay, Kyrls St and Kyrls Quay, Coal Quay, and Lapps Quay are most at risk.

Other areas at risk are the South Mall, Oliver Plunkett St, Pembroke St, Princes St, Marlborough St, Cook St, Winthrop St, Kennedy Quay, Centre Park Rd, Monahan’s Rd, and George’s Quay.

However, Cork City Council warned last night that St Patrick’s St, Robert St, Cornmarket St, and Lower Glanmire Rd are also at risk of flooding.

“Householders and businesses should take precautionary measures to protect property,” city officials said.

Council workers distributed sandbags to premises in the most vulnerable areas. However, traders said they want to see the immediate delivery of a long-awaited flood defence plan.

Union Quay, South Mall, and Oliver Plunkett St were worst hit yesterday after the River Lee burst its banks near Morrison’s Island around 5am. The flood waters, up to 90cm deep, flowed onto St Patrick’s St, which had to be closed to traffic.

Finbarr Cotter’s Newbridge Silverware outlet on Oliver Plunkett St was under almost a foot of water by 7am in what he called the worst flood in a decade.

“I’ve been in Cork city centre since 1978 and it’s like déjà vu,” he said.

“They’ve been talking and talking about flood protection but nothing has happened.

“In terms of the economy, we hope we’ve turned the corner, but on a morning like this, it’s hard to be positive.”

Michael Hodnett, who manages O’Callaghan’s Digital Sound and Vision, said nothing seems to have happened since the last major flood, when the shop was under 60cm of water.

“We try to take as much precaution as we can ourselves but as regards City Hall — nothing seems to have happened whatsoever,” he said.

“We can’t get insurance cover for this and every time this happens, it’s a big cost to us. We would love to see something done to try and help us in some way in these recessionary times.”

Bríd Hughes, who runs the almost century-old Liam Russell’s bookshop, said they have been on flood alert since New Year’s Eve.

“I buy a tide book every year and they laugh at me,” she said.

“We were lucky because we cleared stock in advance. If we hadn’t cleared, we’d have had thousands worth of damage.”

She said city traders, who have been hit repeatedly by flooding, have been waiting years for flood defences.

Michael Cronin, whose family has run Cronin’s Menswear for generations, said the sooner flood defences are delivered the better, and urged all traders to heed the flood warnings.

“I keep saying to people, look, take 10 or 15 minutes lifting stock in the evenings,” he said.

Cork Business Association president Ernest Cantillon said if the money was there, the flood defence plan would be built.

“They know where the water is coming from, and they know the solutions, but I think it’s a funding issue. I just don’t think the money is there,” he said.

Several units of Cork City Fire Brigade helped pump water from the streets, which were clear by 12pm.

Lord Mayor Catherine Clancy said she will raise at a national level the urgency of delivering a flood protection plan for the city.

http://youtu.be/aQoHUC2kFlg