Ballisodare River should be included in survey - Cllr Healy

THERE was anger at this month’s meeting that Ballisodare River has not been included in an upcoming river survey.

A consultant is due to start surveying the Owenmore River this month to identify the environmental constraints to be considered before work is carried out on the river.

The survey is needed to be done before flood prevention works can be carried out on the lengthy river which is prone to flooding in parts.

The consultant will liaise with the Owenmore Drainage Committee and landowners along the river.

Councillor Thomas Healy was annoyed that the stretch of river from where the Unshin River meets the Owenmore River down to Ballisodare, known as Ballisodare River, will not be included.

“Look at Donegal and the hardship those people went through - that could very easily have happened here in Sligo,” he said.

“The people of Ballisodare suffered in 2009 and 2015. There’s no point putting money into tributaries near Gurteen and then it flooding down river in Ballisodare,” he said.

Cllr Healy said it was also laid down in the County Development Plan that a plan be put in place to address flooding.

Cllr Martin Baker said a “lot of money could be buried in stupid reports” while “a lot of the knowledge is local.”

“There was a report 20 years ago and it’s still gathering dust,” he said.

Council official Tom Brennan said extra consultants would be needed to survey the Ballisodare River and they would have “to be paid for.”

Cllr Healy said it was just 2km of river. Mr Brennan said the Council was not responsible for draining the Unshin/Ballisodare River but if landowners approve, Public Private funding could be sought.

“It probably would be possible to ask consultants to look at that stretch but I’m not sure what the answer might be. It might be expensive,” he added.