'At least it shows something is moving': Flood defence plan for Midleton estate

Movement on flood protection works in East Cork is good news, but more is needed, residents said, as a planning notice was erected in an estate where more than 60 homes were flooded two years ago.

The notice states that Cork County Council intends to undertake work on the Tír Cluain flood defence project in Knockgriffin and Broomfield West, Midleton.

The proposed project comprises three key infrastructure elements: a flood defence embankment, a surface water drainage network, and landscaping.

A submission or an observation on the proposed development can be made online on the council website or in writing, with the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group urging people to make a submission in support of the works.

Caroline Leahy, who lives in Tír Cluain, told that in October 2023, “in the region of 62 to 65 houses in the estate were flooded”. She said that interim work has been done in Midleton, but “this is the first sign of the big scheme progressing a little bit, at least it shows something is moving, two years on”.

“It’s good news, but it doesn’t benefit the whole town, we need more,” said Ms Leahy. “There’s over 900 properties in East Cork that were flooded or at risk of flooding. Hundreds more homes around East Cork are not going to see that planning notice in their estate for 10 years.

“We are lucky that they can do this work and it won’t have a knock-on effect elsewhere. Most places need it all to work in tandem or else if they fix one place, it will cause a bigger problem downstream.

“Hopefully, we just have one more winter to get through before me and my neighbours are safe, but the project is still open to objections [as well as] delays if they can’t find a contractor.”

Residents are constantly concerned about the risk of flooding, said Ms Leahy.

“It’s not even just the storms that worry us, the wet weather leading up to the storms is also a contributing factor — if we have general Irish wet weather for two weeks, that saturates the ground and has a knock-on effect when there’s a storm as there’s no soakage left.

“The storm this weekend is going to be relatively bad, but we’ve had a dry patch before it, so we’re hopeful it will be OK, but every time it rains we’re worried.”

Social Democrats TD for the area, Liam Quaide, told The Echo: “There is so much about flood relief in East Cork that is a source of concern and despair for residents, two years on from Storm Babet.

“This scheme for Tír Cluain and some nearby houses is, however, a very good news story, and I commend Cork County Council for their initiative with it.”