Anti-Austerity Alliance calls for meter protests

The Anti-Austerity Alliance has called on householders on Cork’s northside to unite and resist the installation of water meters.

The call came at a public meeting in the city on Wednesday, just hours after Irish Water removed five water meters from an estate on the southside.

AAA candidate for the Cork North central ward, Lil O’Donnell, described the removal of meters from Ashbrook Heights in Togher as a “humiliating climbdown” for the company.

“It showed that ordinary people do not have to be helpless bystanders while meters are installed and this tax is imposed,” she said.

“No doubt it will prove to be a small battle in a much larger war, but everyone should take note of this development and I am calling on all northside residents to discuss the issue and be prepared to take a similar stance,” Ms O’Donnell said.

The meters were removed from Ashbrook after a week of talks between Irish Water and the residents, who have maintained a water meter blockade on their estate for over a month.

Irish Water managed to install five meters in the 65-house estate before protests forced contractors to withdraw.

Irish Water insisted that the meter removal is temporary, and was done only to facilitate the reinstatement of footpaths, which were left unfinished once the blockade started.

A company spokesman said the removed meters will be inspected and re-installed in the estate in due course as part of its national roll-out.

The AAA’s public meeting was attended by members of the protest group which has been supporting Ashbrook Heights residents, and the residents of three neighbouring housing estates.

No attempts have been made to install water meters on the northside, and it is understood that water meter installation will not take place on the northside until next year.