Shannon flooding on meeting agenda

Shannon flooding is far from being a current public concern, particularly with the spell of recent good weather.

However a Fine Gael councillor is saying now is exactly the time to be thinking of it at a meeting tonight (Tuesday).

Councillor John Dolan plans to move a motion at the Athlone area meeting of Westmeath County Council looking for the council to request the OPW to commence the process to obtain the necessary licences to start works for flood alleviation work in the Shannon basin in the Meelick/Banagher area.

He's also looking for Westmeath County Council to look for support on the issue from other local authorities along the Shannon.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent prior to the meeting Cllr Dolan said the work he’s thinking of is maintenance work in the main to help the Shannon flow better.

“There are a few remedial jobs to do in the general Meelick/Banagher area that in my view would have a major impact on the flooding issue further upstream towards Athlone,” he said.

However with up to 40 agencies involved with Shannon maintenance Cllr Dolan said the process to obtain licences for the OPW to do the work is now.

“The reason I put my motion down now is because to achieve what we want to achieve there’s a small window. They need licences before October. They can really only work from October to March. The process of getting licences is not an easy one, and that’s the reason I’m bringing it up now.”

Cllr Dolan said work to be done includes jobs as simple as cutting back trees and scrub that have grown into the river.

A farmer himself, he said previous work of a similar nature had a positive impact in local farming circles.

“The OPW have the machinery, the men and the money to do it,” he said, adding that common sense is needed to ensure licences to carry out the work are obtained.

'The OPW are doing the best they can but they need all the help they can get,” Cllr Dolan said. “Really what I’m trying to do is give them a bit of political goodwill and clout.”

The OPW is currently working in partnership with consultants, local authorities and stakeholders on a Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study (CFRAMS).

With that report not due for completion for another two years, Cllr Dolan says in the interim maintenance work is needed.

“If you have a drain at home and you don’t do anything with it it won’t be long before it’s blocked,” he said. “It’s the same with the Shannon.”