OPW accused of double standards as village denied flood funding
THE “game has changed” when it comes to flooding and particularly so for Crookstown.
That was the view of Cllr Des O’Grady (SF) who was responding to a letter from the OPW (Office of Public Works) which stated that engineering consultants for Cork County Council assessed the viability of a major flood relief scheme for Crookstown and deemed it was not cost beneficial.
The letter, dated January 2, 2018, also stated that the OPW have received an application from CCC for funding to carry out works through the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. That application is ‘currently being assessed by the OPW’.
However, the response grated Cllr Des O’Grady (SF) who said the “game has changed” when it comes to flooding.
At the December meeting, he outlined how the Crookstown Flood Relief Programme was conducted by the OPW in 2016 but the serious flooding which damaged 11 homes and businesses the previous year was apparently not considered. He said the “rules and game” has changed since the flooding occurred in Donegal. He said in that neck of the woods Donegal householders or businesses will be given €250,000 compensation to relocate.
The original flood relief works for Crookstown had a price tag of €1.57 million but this plan was shelved following the cost benefit analysis report. It was his view that if the 11 homes were to be paid the compensation, as they will be in Donegal, it would bring the figure to over €2.7 million – which was way above the cost of putting in the original flood works scheme.
He also pointed out that homes and businesses cannot get insurance and are simply dreading the next flood to hit.
“Cork County Council needs to catch up with the game, which has changed. This is now Government policy. Why is it policy for Donegal but not Crookstown,” he said.
Cllr Michael Creed (FG) said the flooding in Crookstown has been an “ongoing topic” for years for the people and they have suffered greatly.
“It is hard to get insurance. Really, the OPW’s answer is of no benefit to the people of Coachford. There has been three floods over the last five to six years,” he said.
Cllr Gobnait Moynihan (FF) said the response from the OPW is “not good enough”.
Cllr Bob Ryan (FF) said: “It is blatantly obvious that the rules have changed. What we are getting back from the OPW is old hat. Why shouldn’t the same criteria be used for Crookstown as has been used for Donegal.”
Cllr Ted Lucey (FG) said there should be a level playing pitch. “Flooding really is a dirty thing to happen in a house,” he said.
Chairman Cllr Kevin Conway (Ind) said: “There does appear to be two different sets of standards applied here.”
In Crookstown six years ago, during Storm Desmond, 10 houses, a garage, pub and shop were flooded. The peak flooding happened in Crookstown when two rivers burst their banks following torrential rain.
While nobody was injured, 10 houses were badly damaged as was the local shop along with a pub, garage, industrial unit and two warehouses. A large number of acres of agricultural land downstream were flooded and lambs and other livestock also drowned.
To further compound an already frustrating and stressful time, a blocked drain backed-up a spring, which also flowed into the village. Flood waters on the roadway also entered the grotto and demolished a nearby wall.