A solution to the ongoing flooding problem in south Mayo, which would mean huge savings for Mayo Council, has been put forward by a local politician, though, it has been met with some opposition.
Ballinrobe area councillor Damien Ryan wants a pipe to be laid which will pump water from the Neale area to Lough Corrib during the same time as the Neale to Cong water scheme is being laid.
He told a meeting of the Claremorris electoral area committee this week that it would make economic sense to lay the second pipe at the same time as the waterworks. The seven kilometre water scheme pipeline is only 400 metres from the Neale flood location which saw two houses completely flooded in 2006.
Cllr Ryan said it would make sense to conduct one dig and lay two pipes at the same time, meaning Mayo County Council and the Office of Public Works would have to work together on the project.
The issue of installing a submersible pump could be looked at at a later stage once the pipe is laid but Cllr Ryan was adamant that his proposal would mean huge savings for the two authorities.
The south Mayo area has been devastated by ongoing flooding over the past number of years and solutions have been slow. According to Cllr Ryan it would be “pure nonsense” to come back to this in a couple of years when there is an opportunity to lay a pipe in conjunction with the water scheme works.
A member of the Office of Public Works is to attend the next meeting of the Claremorris electoral area to discuss Cllr Ryan’s proposal.
