The elected members of the Westport Belmullet Municipal District have approved part eight planning permission for the development of a Flood Relief Scheme at Cois Abhainn and Ashwood Residential Estates, Ballinrobe Road in Westport, at their November meeting.
The councillors were briefed by council officials on the long-awaited plan which will see, in Cois Abhainn, the construction of 75 linear meters of a new flood defence wall, which will be 1.7 meters above the existing ground level and will include re-routing of surface water drainage and other services, if necessary. It will also see the existing pedestrian access to the riverside area being relocated and the existing stepped access being replaced with a ramp.
In the Ashwood estate the council will construct 170 linear meters of a new flood defence embankment, to a height of 1.1m above the existing ground level and will include the re-routing of surface water draining and other services, if necessary, to facilitate the works.
The councillors were given an update on the plan and response to all the submissions from the public they received by Michael O'Grady from the council's Water Services department.
There was a broad welcome from the councillors for the works, with Independent councillor Christy Hyland saying: "I propose we adopt this, we have been waiting a long time for this, I thank them for replying to the submission."
He added: "Are we talking about 25 to 30 houses at flood risk at this stage? I'm not blaming anyone, but I can’t understand why it took so long. The residents are very concerned for a number of years, it has caused them a lot of stress. Hopefully June or July will see construction start with completion by next October."
The proposed adoption was seconded by Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn, who said: "Thanks to all for putting the work together; hopefully we will see the works completed in the year ahead."
