This time last year large swathes of the county were under water with flooding in the south Mayo area particularly bad, the issue once again raised its head at the December meeting of Mayo County Council this week. The elected members were given a presentation by senior executive engineer Dave Mellett in regard to how the council should make a submission to the OPW on the Draft Flood Risk Management Plan for the Moy and Kilalla Bay and Erriff, Clew Bay, Blacksod, Broadhaven.
After his presentation a number of councillors from all areas of the county outlined their concerns in relation to flooding risks affecting their areas. Independent councillor Michael Holmes said that it was time for "local knowledge" to be used instead of "report after report", telling the meeting, "bushes and trees must be taken out of the rivers". That was backed up by Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Loftus who told the meeting Crossmolina might not have been flooded had proper drainage of rivers been carried out.
Independent West Mayo councillor Christy Hyland said he would not be welcoming any more reports on the issue as it was not doing anything for the people who are affected, and even those who have not been flooded, but are now in an area where they are told they might get flooded cannot get insurance companies to insure their homes. Cllr Hyland proposed that every two months the council would discuss the issue of flooding to see what progress was being made on the issue, which was fully supported by the rest of the council.
