Major safety issue with Ahare flooding
THE constant flooding at Ahare bridge in Castletown poses a serious health and safety issue, according to Cathaoirleach of Gorey Municipal District Cllr Joe Sullivan at last week’s meeting.
‘We don’t need reminding with what happened in Mayo during Christmas,’ said Cllr Sullivan. ‘If you drive through that and get out of your car and into the water you could drown. We can’t let it go on any further.’
Environmental engineer for Wexford County Council George Colfer said permission is needed from Natural Heritage to intervene as it is a conservation area.
‘We could dredge it at the mouth,’ added Mr Colfer.
Cllr John Hegarty said the road has to be passable so ‘we do not endanger lives’. ‘We need to lower it at the eyes of the bridge,’ added Cllr Hegarty.
District director Eddie Taaffe agreed with the councillors and said ‘health and safety has to be put ahead’.
‘It is imperative that it is done,’ said Cllr Pip Breen. ‘It is common sense and we should be able to build a case strong enough for it to be a health and safety issue.’
Cllr Hegarty said the project on Ahare bridge needs to be done properly. ‘We are not exaggerating. It is a genuine health and safety issue,’ said Cllr Hegarty.
Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said he remembers hauling out a member of the public after his vehicle became submerged in water during the floods. ‘He was very lucky to get out alive,’ said Cllr Ó Súilleabháin.