Cork city flood defences fast-tracked as plans for Blackpool flood relief scheme revealed

Efforts are being made to fast-track parts of Cork City’s delayed flood defence project — the largest scheme of its kind in the history of the State.

Wed, 25 Nov, 2015 - 00:00

Eoin English

Simon Harris, minister of state at the OPW, was in Cork yesterday to launch the public consultation phase of the €15m Blackpool flood defence plan.

He said engineers are working to bring forward certain elements of the scheme, which is expected to cost at least €50m.

“The River Lee scheme is the largest flood relief scheme in history of the State,” he said.

“It is very complex and is likely to go on public display by the middle of next year, with construction starting in 2017. We are actively working with the city council to see if elements of the scheme can be advanced in the interim. It would make sense to do it in phases. If there are bits ready to go earlier, we should get on with it.”

The news comes a week after the sixth anniversary of the 2009 flood which devastated the city centre, and prompted calls for major flood defences.

The Blackpool and river Bride project was developed as part of the brief for the Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme but is now being advanced as a separate project. The plans, which have now been unveiled for public consultation, will significantly reduce flood risk to 285 properties — of which 206 are residential. It will consist mainly of new embankments, new walls, new culverts, the infilling of some open channels (including the stretch alongside the church), and the replacement of some bridges.

Blackpool as it is now, top, and an artist’s impression of how it could be as plans for a €15m flood relief scheme for the area were unveiled. Minister of state Simon Harris said they were going to spend more money on flood relief over the next five years than they had in the past 20 years.

Mick Moriarty, chairman of the Blackpool Flood Committee, said the community is delighted the plans have finally been unveiled: “We are just thrilled that it’s going to happen. We’ve put a lot of effort into this. We’ve had nearly 50 meetings with the engineers involved.

“The OPW have been brilliant. But the important thing now is for the insurance industry to deliver on insurance once the projects are completed.”

Mr Harris said the public consultation process provides an important opportunity for people with local knowledge to help fine-tune certain design elements: “I want to assure all that my office will try and balance technical requirements with the interests and expectations of everyone.

“My office and both councils recognise that local knowledge can make a valuable contribution to fine-tuning scheme proposals and these public information days will give everyone an opportunity to look at the designs and provide feedback.”

The plans will be on display in Blackpool Community Centre from 2pm to 8pm on December 3, 10, and 21; with a February 2 deadline for submissions.

Members of the project design and environmental teams will be available to answer questions. Following the exhibition stage, the detailed design phase will start with the plan submitted to the minister for public expenditure for approval. The minister is then required to carry out an independent review of the environmental impact statement.