Councillor claims South Galway abandoned
Galway Bay fm newsroom - 'South Galway has been abandoned' according to Loughrea area councillor Bridie Willers who's making an impassioned plea for the flooding crisis in the area to be tackled once and for all.
At this week's meeting of the local authority, the Fine Gael councillor said she didn't accept Europe wanted to see families forced to move while farmers sold land.
She added the Ministers responsible for the OPW and the national parks and wildlife service had yet to view the flood waters in the area first hand.
Councillor Willers has been forced to leave her home in Grannagh in the parish of Ardrahan twice in five years because of flooding, but says her father and his father before him did not have the same problems.
Galway county council says a minor works application has been made to the OPW for the construction of a new culvert at Cahermore and works will proceed this year.
A minor works application has also been made to the OPW for maintenance works on the Ballylee river and a scheme has been approved.
Councillor Bridie Willers says families have been devastated by flooding since 1991 and is calling for action now.
Councillor Jimmy McClearn echoed her sentiments, saying there had been enough talk about reports, consultants and cost benefit analysis.
In regards to the Dunkellin river and Aggard flood relief scheme, the engineering design and environmental assessment is ongoing.
The meeting heard reports are being finalised which could take 8 to 10 weeks and there will also be a public consultation day.
Meanwhile the OPW has finalised, and responded to, submissions made on the proposed Clare river scheme, and referred the scheme to the Minister for Finance.