Criticism of reaction to ‘Long Stretch’ flooding problem
COUNCILLORS were critical of a response from officials to a proposal to undertake works to deal with annual flooding problems on the section of the R287 between Ballintogher and Carraroe known as the “Long Stretch” when it was raised at a Sligo-Drumcliffe Municipal District meeting.
Cllr Thomas Healy proposed that the council include the road in the next three-year roads programme and that work be done in a number of stages over the three years.
His motion also stated that flooding “has been a major problem on the R287 which serves a growing number of motorists for the village of Ballintogher and Leitrim area”. Cllr Healy said that that this issue had been going on for the past 30 years and “we have to come up with a solution and soon”.
He acknowledged that there was some work done there and that a pipe had been put in but when it was put in the water was at its highest level and now when it flooded the water did not reach the pipe.
He was told by acting director of services Emer Concannon that the raising of the road level in this area “would be significant to bring the level of the road above the flood plain”. However, she said that “it would initially have to be demonstrated that these works would also not have an adverse impact on the local environment”.
“The raising of the road would cost a significant six figure sum and it is possible that any raised road would sink further due to the increased weight of the road and poor ground conditions,” she said. Ms Concannon said the inclusion of this road in the restoration improvement programme “is deemed inappropriate due to the significant works and costs involved”
She also said that there were no houses or other occupied properties affected by the flooding and when flooding occurs a short road diversion is put in place.
Cllr Healy said he was disappointed with the response.
“So is the council is saying we are not going to invest in this road and this area. So you are saying we are just going to forget about the problem and ignore it.”
He said there three houses in the area and there were farms in the area.
He said people have been stuck in floods and cars have been damaged, “even employees from Sligo County Council lost their cars in it”.
He asked were they just going to close the road and upgrade one of the other roads.
“Maybe that is the handiest way out of it but to say that we are just going to leave it the way it is is unacceptable to me and to the people of Ballintogher that pay their road tax, pay their property tax and every other sort of tax,” he said.
Cllr Healy said it floods now four or five times a year and he said that with climate change we are going to get more rain.
Acting chief executive Tom Kilfeather said that it was a matter for the councillors because it was their roadworks programme and for them to decide what they wanted to prioritise in it.
“The director has indicated that you are talking about a six figure sum so if this road is to be prioritised you have to have regard to the implications of that for the rest of your roadworks programme,” he said. But he said that in advance of the roadworks programme they would get a rough costing done of what it would actually cost and that might help inform the decision making.
Cllr Thomas Walsh said he met with residents there and there were six properties affected.
“It not affecting the properties directly but it is affecting their lives. There is one particular house where they have to go back towards Carraroe to get to Ballintogher NS with children when flooding happens.” He said the environment was “mentioned a huge amount” but he said that “people’s lives and safety issues are a lot more important than the habitat along this area”.
“We continuously use this environmental avenue of not doing the right thing and not doing the simple answer to the problem,” he said.
Cllr Walsh said that while there had been talk of a six figure sum he felt there was local knowledge there and if the senior engineer could meet with the residents there was minor work that could be done that would help alleviate the problem with the road.
Cllr Donal Gilroy said that it had been suggested to him that if the sluice gates at the weir at Riverside in Sligo town could be opened when there was flooding it would help to alleviate the problem and he ssaid this was something which should be be tried.
Cllr Healy agreed that if they could meet with local residents a cheaper solution might be found.
He said: “If we don’t have to spend a lot of money on it that would be great but we have to do something about it because it has been going on for 30 years.