VIDEO: Storm Desmond floods: Furious Bandon residents demand flood relief scheme

As businesses and families around the country count the cost of Storm Desmond this morning, residents of one of the worst affected towns are gearing up for a protest march tonight at lack of progress in implementing a flood relief scheme.

The €10m Bandon flood relief scheme was first commissioned by the Office of Public Works (OPW), in partnership with Cork County Council, following a major flood in 2009 which resulted in approximately €140m in insurance claims.

However, Simon Harris, minister of state with special responsibility for the OPW, has now said it will be 2018 before the scheme is in place.

“The current position is that tender documentation has been issued to a shortlist of contractors to undertake the civil works contract. The tenders are due back in early January, after which the assessment process will take place. The assessment process, tender report, approval process and the necessary cooling-off period will be progressed as quickly as possible and the works are due to start in 2016. The scheme will be constructed over the 2016-2018 period.”

Local Fine Gael TD Jim Daly said realistically it would be another two-and-a-half years.

Furious townspeople will take part in the protest, organised by the Friends of Bandon, at 7.30pm tonight at the main bridge.

Non-party local councillor Alan Coleman said it was “to show solidarity to the 30 businesses affected but also to send a clear message to central government”.

Flooding in Bandon, Co Cork, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Picture: Denis Minihane

Despite the provision of sandbags and the overnight work of the fire brigade pumping thousands of gallons of water off the streets, businesses were flooded. With no insurance, damage to property and loss of trading, retailers on South Main St were counting the substantial cost of the second major flood in six years.

Storm Desmond caused havoc across the country over the weekend, with a man having to be rescued from a tractor in Co Clare and numerous events cancelled.

Fire service personnel continued, until approximately 3pm, to pump water from the streets of Bandon town after flooding overnight. Picture: Larry Cummins