Sinn Féin Councillor Antoin Watters has said people in Cooley are ‘still living in dread of the weather’ as we approach the first anniversary of the devastating Halloween floods that seen people trapped in their homes and roads destroyed.
Cllr Watters said “We, in the Peninsula still anxiously check the weather religiously and Thursday’s (26th Sept) heavy rainfall across the country but worryingly, according to ‘Louth Weather’ while the South of the County recorded 5mm of rainfall, Ravensdale and Glenmore recorded 66.8mm and 50.4mm respectively and there was more rainfall still coming.”
Cllr Watters continued “following the floods last year, Louth County Council Flood Relief Section has been actively working to prevent a repeat of the devastation and have provided me with an update on their work and also the work carried out by the Council’s Operations Department, summarised as follows:
• They have carried out an extensive data collection exercise to gather information to help inform the proposed flood relief scheme.
• They have been involved in the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment for the 3rd cycle of the EU Floods Directive, a number of areas in the Cooley Peninsula have been brought to the attention of the OPW for further assessment.
• They have meet with a number of individual residents in the Cooley Area who have suggested works to mitigate flooding, these have been assessed for viability and potential minor works funding, etc.
• They have procured a Topographical Survey Contractor & CCTV Contractor to carryout Manhole Surveys, Thresholds Surveys & Cross Section Surveys. The Data collected will be used to inform hydrological and hydraulic analysis that will be used to produce a hydraulic model of the rivers and channels around the town. This model will then be used to determine flood extents and structural measures to protect affected properties. This work is currently onsite and progressing.
• The Steering Group (LCC & OPW) have met on a number of occasions and are currently finalising a brief to procure a Design Team/Consultant Engineers to carry out the extensive Engineering and Environmental elements of the proposed scheme.
• The OPW have approved funding for an Executive Engineer to progress the scheme, a sanction is currently with the Department for final approval.
Cllr Watters said “every day that it rains is a cause for anxiety in Cooley. In this country we only get a few days of summer at best and we are now coming into the wet season once again so while it is comforting to know that these works are progressing and we aren’t being forgotten about, the sooner they are completed and we can be sure that any future flooding can be mitigated, the better.
“Flooding and drainage are issues that I am persistently liaising with the Council’s Operations Department on and I will continue to do so. I will also continue to keep a watchful eye on the progress above and keep residents updated.”
