Council Denied Funding for Summer Dredging of Bandon River
Issued : Thursday 9 June, 2011
Cork County Council’s application to the OPW for funding to carry out remedial works on the Bandon River has been denied.
Cllr Gearóid Buckley has called on the OPW to release the vital funding required to clean and dredge the Bandon River over the summer period. ‘I am in disbelief that the OPW have turned down an application by Cork County Council for vital funding for remedial works on the Bandon River. At the earliest works on a flood prevention scheme will begin in December, in the meantime Bandon will have to contend with another long winter of worry’, he said.
‘If a similar flood event occurs to that of November 2009, Bandon will not be in a position to get back on its feet. Coupled with the recession, businesses are still closing as a result of the damage since November 2009.
‘I appreciate that works have been carried out i.e. the early warning system is in place and the timetable for the development of long term flood prevention measures is progressing as fast as it possibly can, however we need cleaning and dredging to occur this summer. This January we experienced a flood event that was just short of the November 2009’s levels. It was too close for comfort. Since then there has naturally been further sediment and stones deposited throughout the river.
‘The County Engineer’s Department has now re-applied for funding. I applaud them for this and urge the OPW to reverse their original decision.’
Cork County Council applied to the OPW for funding for river cleaning (dated 7th April 2011). In a letter dated 17th May 2011, the OPW turned down the funding application.
The reply noted that a feasibility study is underway for the main scheme and it is anticipated that, after a further round of public consultation, a preferred option will be chosen before the end of the year. The OPW considered it to be premature to carry out further works under the Minor Works Scheme.
The County Engineers Department is still trying to progress the river cleaning works & has submitted another application to the OPW on 31st May 2011
