Protests against water meters continue but Irish Water say pace of installation “on target”

More pockets of resistance against the installations of water meters have emerged even as Irish Water has said the rate of installations is still on target.

Demonstrators continued to resist efforts by Irish Water contractors to install meters in the Ashbrook Heights and Fernwood Crescent estates in Lehenaghmore in south Cork City yesterday, while protesters also staged demonstrations in parts of Dublin.

In the Togher estate of Ashbrook Heights, protesters were joined by residents in effectively blockading a works van as it attempted to continue work yesterday morning.

Brian Gould of the Ballyphehane and South Parish Anti Water and Property Tax Campaign said there had been “some argy- bargy” when workers tried to remove bollards and barriers from the back of the vehicle, only for protesters to try and push the equipment back into the vehicle.

Installation work in Ashbrook and Fernwood has ceased, but installation is continuing across the nearby Greenwood estate, where there appears to be no resistance.

Meanwhile, protests in parts of Raheny in Dublin continued yesterday, with one of the organisers claiming that attempts to install the meters in other parts of the city would be met with similar resistance.

Protests have centred on the Watermill Drive estate, and Bernie Hughes of Dublin Says No said: “We will go and we will protest peacefully wherever they move on from here to install the water meters, and we will hope that people in the areas will come and support us and it will gain momentum over time — that is what we are hoping.”

Ms Hughes said “40 to 50 people” had pledged to stand with protesters in her own area of Finglas when meter installation moves there.

In the Lehenaghmore estates in Cork, Mr Gould said “99.9% of residents are behind us” as the blockade continued.

One local woman, Kim Seymour, who said she was recovering from a serious illness, said she was opposed to water metering on both health grounds and because of the additional cost on families, while another resident, John Power, said: “It’s another bill — it’s as simple as that. Basically, kids in the future, what are they going to have to pay for? Air?”

It is understood that delays in installation in areas such as Lehenaghmore has meant some sub-contractors — paid per meter installed — have had to be re-deployed elsewhere. It typically takes two days to complete installation of one meter and a crew can install as many as 15 in a day.

In nearby Greenwood, many meters have been installed and work is continuing on more. Local resident Sean Forde said: “We just accept it and get on with it.”

An Irish Water spokesman said: “From time to time we have to temporarily suspend works to maintain health and safety, however, the rate of installations is still on target. We are installing 27,000 meters per month, with 200,000 installed to date.”

He also rejected “false claims around radiation” and other health concerns voiced by protesters.