Flooding fears in Carraroe leads to planning refusal
SLIGO County Council has refused permission for the use of lands in Carraroe for the dumping of landfill on the grounds of flooding fears.
Fintan Kearins had applied to retain existing fill material covering 0.32 hectares at lands at Carrowgobbadagh and carry out further filling with inert soils, construction and demolition waste covering 0.55 hectares. The applicant also applied for the creatio of a new entrance to the lands.
However, the County Council has refused permission for the application with an executive engineer stating that having regard to wetland and drainage characteristics of the site and the wider area, together with their susceptibility to flooding, it is considered that any interference with ground levels and conditions of the site may affect the volume of water that the surrounding lands can accommodate.
This could lead to a detrimental effect on the surrounding water courses, road drainage channels and the roads network. Executive Engineer, Paul O’Rourke said under flood risk guidelines for local authoritiesit was stated that development in areas of regular flooding should be avoided. In a submission, local resident, Colm Jennings said the area was drained by a series of small streams covering parts of the townlands of Carrowkeel, Tonafortes, Carraroe, Oakfield, Cloverhill and Carrowmore.
The catchment in question includes Coverhill Lake, Taggerts Lough and Carrowmore Lough in addition to low lying wet lands. The entire drainage system was linked to swallow holes which discharge to the natural drainage regime in Carrowgobbadagh, he said.
“Please note over recent years I have noted constant infilling of low lying lands within our area which historically allowed the temporary storage of storm water in wet weather periods. Recently, my concern and those of my neighbours regrading flooding of private dwellings and property was unfortunately realised as a result of Storm Desmond in December 2015 and the loss of these local flood plains.
“It is now locally recognised that recent developments adjacent to the natural drainage regime, drainage chanels which are served by the existing swallow holes located at both Carrowkeel and Carrowgobbadagh has contributed to extensive flooding in our area,” added Mr Jennings.
He added that media reports had highlighted the loss of private dwellings due to flood waters never before experienced in the locality in addition to restricted access to private dwellings and closure of the public road network.