Hopes broadband can be installed alongside flood and sewerage works in Co Cork

Councillors in a Co Cork town are hoping broadband will be introduced in tandem with major work on its flood prevention and sewerage systems, to avoid having to re-dig at a later stage.

It is expected that the flood and sewerage schemes for Bandon will start next year and that they will cause major disruption.

Cllr James O’Donovan (FG) yesterday told a meeting of the council’s Western Committee that it would make sense to put in broadband while the town was being dug up.

He won unanimous support from colleagues when he asked that the council write to the Department of Communications and Irish Water to ensure that the introduction of a broadband service was carried out in conjunction with the other projects.

“The way technology is moving it is very important that broadband is available in the area for job creation,” Cllr O’Donovan said.

His motion was seconded by Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) who said it is important everything is put into place at the same time.

“We resurfaced the main streets in Kinsale and a month later Bord Gáis came in and tore them up,” he said.

Cllr Margaret Murphy-O’Mahony (FF) said that a major firm, Dreamweaver, had moved out of Bandon because of the lack of proper broadband.

Cllr Mary Hegarty (FG) said broadband would create jobs and re-populate rural areas which had suffered from emigration and migration in recent years.

Assistant county manager James Fogarty said he was fully behind the motion.

“It’s the new electricity and we want to see it in the ground,” he said.

The local authority is to appoint a liaison officer to help minimise disruption ahead of the works.

The town’s €5m main sewerage scheme is expected to recommence in March and will lead to extensive works on the Clonakilty Road, Dunmanway Road, and Glasslinn Road. This will be completed by June 2016.

The town’s sewerage treatment plant is also getting a major upgrade, but this will not be finished until December 2016.

The flood prevention scheme will involve the construction of new walls and embankments, the excavation of the river channel for a distance of 3km, replacement of the existing footbridge, and provision of fish passage along with works to the drainage system and a new pump station.

This work is expected to get under way in March and be completed by the winter of 2016.