Meadows flood defences “impossible”

Deerpark Road and surrounding areas will be flooded if the River Shannon breaks its banks to the same extent as last year. That's according to Athlone's Director of Services Barry Kehoe, who said that because the area between the Shannon and Deerpark is a Special Area of Conservation, planning permission for flood defences will never be granted. “It's impossible to get a flood defence scheme at Deerpark through the planning process because of the highest form of EU law - the Special Area of Conservation,†said Mr Kehoe. “We just hope that the river doesn't come up or that there's excessive rainfall over the winter months.†He was discussing flood levels and prevention measures at last week's area meeting, when flooding was raised by both the Athlone Community and Voluntary Forum and Cllr Frankie Keena. “It's extremely difficult to keep the river out of vulnerable areas in the town,†added Mr Kehoe. He said that because of measures put in place, Iona Park will not be flooded. “The river level is the critical issue, in my view all the agencies should work together to keep/maintain levels... We need to keep river levels as low as possible, that has to be the objective of everyone involved in the running of the Shannon,†said Barry Kehoe. “The big problem we have is that as soon as the river comes up to the second level, it affects the drainage in town.†“Funding for flood defences at Deerpark and Parnell Square is not going to happen, but how will these people survive if there's floods again?†asked Cllr Frankie Keena (FF). “To me, the key to it is that the ESB and Waterways Ireland need to work closer together.†He pointed out that the Electricity Supply Act in the 1920s gave the control of the Shannon to the ESB and called on the government to amend this act. Cllr Keena added that he was to attend a meeting with Canal Walk residents and wanted to know what to say to them. Mayor Sheila Buckley Byrne pointed out that the town engineer and director of services are watching the river levels since September 14 and have been communicating with all the agencies involved in the management of the Shannon. “All we can do is watch the levels and put pressure on the ESB if those levels rise,†she said, adding that the OPW are now in charge of flood risk, although it is a “rather uncertain†role. “The OPW has a much wider remit and role, but they say, and correspondence indicates, that things are no different... We have no control over the river and therefore, its level of flooding, period,†said Cllr Mark Cooney. Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran praised the town engineer Alan Kelly for the work carried out on Northgate Street to prevent flooding at Central Terrace. He suggested that a flood defence wall could be constructed along Clonown up as far as Canal Walk in the future. “We've met with the Minister and the OPW and a report is due in 2015. Everyone is affected and everyone is worried, but we have to wait for that report. I don't believe that we'll be flooded this year - I've spoken to Waterways Ireland and the levels are lower further up in the Shannon compared to this time last year,†said Cllr Moran. Cllr Gabrielle McFadden said that waiting for a report and funding in 2015, is “no good to the people nowâ€. She said that the council should continue to write to Minister Manseragh to ask for funding as soon as possible and to put one agency in charge of the river.