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Bantry staff got ‘dog's abuse' over latest water breakage

May 20th, 2016 11:50 AM

By Southern Star Team

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Council workers in Bantry were subjected to ‘dog’s abuse’ after another water break in Barrack Street left numerous businesses without water.

BY JACKIE KEOGH

COUNCIL workers in Bantry were subjected to ‘dog’s abuse’ after another water break in Barrack Street left numerous businesses without water.

Speaking at a meeting of the Western Committee, Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) said: ‘In fairness to the Council workers, they were out at 7am dealing with a problem that happened on Tuesday night.’

The councillor said it was unfortunate the Council employees have to bear the brunt of peoples’ frustrations because the breakages are a matter for Irish Water, not the local authority.

Cllr Collins said that ‘at noon on Wednesday, there were five hairdressing salons, as well as numerous restaurants and businesses in Barrack Street, still without water because of yet another break in the town’s water supply system.’

Cllr Collins and Cllr Mary Hegarty (FG), both of whom are Bantry-based, said the water pipes in Barrack Street are breaking so often that it has become hugely disruptive to businesses. And they asked: ‘When is the work to rectify the problem going to be carried out?’

Cllr Hegarty said: ‘This is so frustrating for businesses who are at the pin of their collar. They are coming into the busiest time of the year and they have to deal with so many breaks that it has become like ‘Groundhog Day’.”

‘Last year, during the West Cork Literary Festival – possibly the busiest time of the year – there was a break as well. Bantry shouldn’t have to put up with this,’ she said. ‘It is happening way too often. We need an immediate response from Irish Water.’

Cllr Declan Hurley (Ind) pointed out that he had asked Irish Water to meet the Council, but the company refused. ‘We do meet representatives of Irish Water at clinics, but we only get a cut-and-paste response to our questions.’

His suggestion that the Western Committee members ‘should go to them and put our case’ met with widespread support at the meeting.

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