Residents negotiate water meter removal but ‘war’ will go on

Residents who negotiated the removal of water meters from their estate have hailed a small victory in their battle with Irish Water but warned the war is far from over.

Irish Water was forced to backtrack on denials yesterday and admit it removed five meters from Ashbrook Heights in Togher, Cork, the centre of a month-long water meter blockade.

The company said the removal was temporary and meters would be installed.

Ashbrook resident Suzanne O’Flynn said while it was a significant day in their campaign, there was still a “big long battle yet”.

“Getting the policy of charging for water reversed is the ultimate goal here. The people of Ireland just don’t have the money to pay these charges, and the cost of water is only going to go up and up.

“The people of Ireland have to stand up and resist. The idea is to stop this completely. And while we knew the meters were being removed temporarily, and they will be back, we will be watching and waiting. Our protest will continue.”

The residents, backed by anti water and property tax protestors, forced contractors to stop work and withdraw from the 65-house estate a month ago after five meters were installed.

The latest development came just after 9am yesterday, and followed over a week of talks between Irish Water and the residents.

It is understood the company was anxious to carry out reinstatement works to the unfinished works area on footpaths outside six homes for safety reasons.

While six boundary boxes — hollow tubes into which the meters are slotted — had been fitted, only five meters were installed. The contractors were escorted into the estate by residents and work began. But when a small group of protestors insisted the removal of the boundary boxes as well, a stand-off ensued and work stopped.

Residents voted to allow the work they had agreed with Irish Water to resume.

By lunchtime, the five meters were removed, the boundary boxes were left in the ground, and the footpaths were reinstated.

As the work was continuing, reports emerged that Irish Water was denying the meters were being removed.

But after the Irish Examiner published video evidence of the work, the company issued a statement accepting that meters were removed.

It said: “Five meters in new boundary boxes have been removed temporarily for inspection and will be re-installed in due course as part of the completion of works in the estate. No meter [boundary] boxes have been removed. Residents were informed that Irish Water was doing this.”

Protest spokesman John Lonergan, of Ballyphehane and South Parish Anti Water and Property Tax campaign group, said his group is not claiming this as a victory.

“We as a campaign are moving on to next estate, and the next estate. It’s not a victory from our point of view — it’s only the start of the war.”