Bandon Flood Group fear delays on relief works
The group, made up of businesspeople and residents of the Co Cork town, are seeking the meeting because of the expectation that Mr Howlin’s department must review the Environmental Impact Statement associated with the scheme.
There has already been a delay to the flood relief scheme in Skibbereen for similar reasons. In that case the OPW had to submit the tender to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to further evaluate the Environmental Impact Statement. The preferred tender then pulled out.
Spokeswoman for Bandon Flood Group, Gillian Powell, said the group were seeking a meeting with Mr Howlin on January 6 in the hopes of an “epiphany” regarding concrete progress on the Bandon works.
The scheme has already suffered a number of delays, and earlier this month, as many as 60 businesses were affected by the flooding, with an estimated 36 sustaining flood damage.
Ms Powell said people in Bandon were “very concerned” over any potential future delay and said: “We are seeking a meeting with Brendan Howlin immediately on that.”
Ms Powell is also a member of the Irish National Flood Forum which, in a recent report, urged government action to ensure that businesses who cannot currently get flood insurance do receive it following the completion of flood relief works.
She cited Fermoy as an example of a town which has a completed scheme but where some businesses are still not getting insurance cover.
Any meeting with Mr Howlin is also likely to hear appeals for more short-term resources to help businesses prepare for any future flood event. “We want pumps and non-returnable valves,” Ms Powell said.
Some 66 businesses in Bandon have already signed a petition threatening to withhold payment of local authority rates from June 1 if flood protection works have not begun by that date. The majority of signatories are understood to be part of the newly-formed Bandon Business Alliance Group.
Cork County Council has responded by stating that the OPW has lead responsibility for delivery of the flood protection scheme, but Ms Powell said: “We really appreciate the difficult position that Cork County Council are in but they are the guys that have to chase up these works. They have a role, they are the conduit. If anyone can make it happen, it is [Cork County Council chief executive] Tim Lucey.”
Meanwhile, an estimated 15 to 20 businesses in Bandon have applied for immediate financial aid of up to €5,000, which was made available by the Government following the flooding two weeks ago.
Ms Powell said many applicants had already received the money, while others said they had applied and expected to receive the money before Christmas.
Most businesses in Bandon paid tribute to customers who they said lent their support by shopping in the area in the run-up to Christmas, with many hailing the community spirit on show as retail levels exceeded expectations generally.
Read about communities struggling with the aftermath of the floods in Monday’s Irish Examiner
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
