Landowners risk prosecution over drainage

Landowners in Cork who refuse to allow their land to be used for drainage channels to alleviate road surface water could face prosecution.

The warning was issued by a senior official in Cork County Council as it prepares a pilot project to open up more roadside ‘drainage ditches’ to stop further deterioration of thousands of kilometres of rural roads.

Aidan Weir, a senior engineer in the council’s roads department, said that under the 1993 Roads Act it is an offence for a landowner to prevent water lodging on a public road from being directed into their land.