People ‘sick and tired’ of flood work delays in West Cork town

The people of Bantry are “sick and tired” of waiting for flood-relief measures and want to know when works on the proposed scheme and culvert will take place, council officials have been told.

The issue was raised by the Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins, who said that the most recent flooding hit Bantry on November 4 — the seventh flood to hit the West Cork town in five years.

He told Cork County Council’s western division that while there is a proposed flood-relief scheme, “we are being told it won’t start until at least 2031/2032”. He also sought an update on proposed culvert works.

“According to reports done in 2018, more than 500m of the town’s 950m of culverts were in urgent need of repair,” said Mr Collins. “Now, seven years later, the people of Bantry deserve to know when these works are going to start. They are sick and tired of hearing ‘this year’ and ‘that year’.”

Council engineer Catherine Murphy said Cork County Council, in partnership with the Office of Public Works, is advancing plans to upgrade the culvert that runs through Wolfe Tone Square, New St, and Bridge St in Bantry.

She said the Part 8 report was approved in February and the council completed the procurement process for technical advisers in October.

Based on information provided during the technical-adviser tender process, Ms Murphy said a feasibility study was expected to be completed in two months. Detailed design had an estimated timeframe of 12 months and, following that, procurement and contracting were estimated to take four months. Construction was then anticipated to start in quarter two of 2027.

Ms Murphy said: “As with any construction project, but particularly one of this nature, factors as yet unforeseen may impact the current planned programmed delivery.”

WARNING

Independent Ireland councillor John Collins proposed that Bantry get a flood-warning system similar to one that previously operated in Bandon, as an interim measure, while the town waits.

Mr Collins said a system had been in place in Bandon that provided information for residents and businesses by text message when flooding was expected.

Finbarr Harrington (Ind) said the constant worry for people in Bantry about flooding was “mentally draining” and such a system could help alleviate some of the stress.

Ms Murphy told the meeting that: “The development of an early flood-warning system for Bantry is challenging, due to the nature of the catchment, which is steeply sloping and prone to rapid onset of flooding.”

She said the council will engage with OPW and Met Éireann to review the existing gauging infrastructure within the catchment area and identify if additional stations would allow for the development of a meaningful flood warning system.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme.