Retreat Road flooding issue ‘Athlone's greatest chestnut’
A local councillor has called on the Athlone-Moate Municipal District of Westmeath County Council to investigate funding options to address the significant flooding which remains "a major concern" on Retreat Road.
Addressing members at the monthly meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Cllr John Gibbons said "funding options for the extension of the main drainage scheme to alleviate serious flooding in the Retreat Road area must be considered".
"In spells of heavy and persistent rain there is fairly significant flooding on the Retreat Road, at times causing damage to properties in the locality. Drainage works appear to be taking place throughout Athlone, so why can't the flooding issue on Retreat Road be addressed?
"Maybe we could approach the OPW for the relevant funding?" Cllr Gibbons said.
Describing the issue as "Athlone's greatest chestnut", Cllr Aengus O'Rourke said the ongoing flooding problem on Retreat Road was an issue which needed to be prioritised.
"It's bizarre to think that despite a spend of €115m on the main drainage system for Athlone, that this particular body of work was not included in the scheme," Cllr O'Rourke said.
The councillor said as Retreat Road was "in a dip", the rain when it fell, causes damage to approximately ten properties in the locality.
"Residents have had to assist with the unplugging of drains and sandbag their front doors in times of flooding. Unfortunately, this is a serious flooding issue that has never received the prioritisation it deserves.
"Westmeath County Council and Uisce Éireann have to forge a co-operative approach and fund the necessary works that must now happen on Retreat Road.
"It is crazy to think that we are 20 years or so trying to come up with a solution to what has become a legacy flooding matter," Cllr O'Rourke said.
Cllr Paul Hogan said the flooding situation was "completely unacceptable".
"I believe that there are 10 houses directly impacted in times of heavy rain and flooding. It's strange to think that no engineer has been found in the past 20 years who can address this matter.
If we can't find an engineer who can solve this issue what hope have we for the major capital projects?" Cllr Hogan said.
Stating that issue "can no longer be kicked down the road", the councillor said that a collaborative approach "with the relevant agencies" would hopefully realise funding to remedy the problem.
Director of Services Jackie Finney said the council executive was due to meet with Uisce Éireann and discuss further the flooding issues on Retreat Road.
"Unfortunately, these works were removed from the main drainage scheme contract," Ms Finney said.
Ms Finney also confirmed the issue of sewer flooding and stormwater management is under consideration at national level through structures representing the local Government sector, Uisce Éireann and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
"The outcome of these deliberations will be an agreed framework for the management of these issues, including the situation at Retreat Road. Unfortunately, the council is not in a position to progress the issue until this framework is in place," Ms Finney said.
Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme