A local residents group has met with Senior Staff of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and management of Laois County Council (LCC) to raise concerns over the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme.
The Derrycloney Group had requested the meeting to progress the flood works in such a way as not to cause flooding to homes and property in the area.
The meeting was organised by Sinn Féin TD for Laois/Offaly, Brian Stanley, who had discussed the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme last month in his role as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“The local Residents group are extremely concerned that the current plans for the scheme will have the unintended consequences of causing flooding at their homes and properties,” Deputy Stanley said.
The meeting heard that all homes in the area depend on wells for domestic water supply, and they also have onsite septic tanks for wastewater from their households.
An Engineer, on behalf of the residents, set out what their concerns were and put forward technical information to support their case.
The concern is that if flooding were to occur in this area it would directly cause the pollution of domestic water supplies which would be emanating from septic tanks and farm slurry tanks in the locality.
“Both the OPW and LCC committed to carrying out further investigations and further survey works and incorporate whatever new measures that are necessary to protect the area from the risk of flooding,” Deputy Stanley said.
“The Mountmellick scheme needs to be progressed as quickly as possible, given the damage to homes and businesses in the past.
“It is essential that the final plans for it does not result in flooding just been moved from one residential area to another.
“The OPW and LCC are to revert back to the residents by the end of August with the result of the outcome of their investigations along with proposals to contain flooding.”
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