Crookstown is ‘not worth' flood relief scheme

THE residents of Crookstown are now ‘left with nothing’ according to Cllr Bob Ryan (FF), following a cost benefit analysis undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to examine the feasibility of a flood relief scheme for the village.

‘It sounds like a business criteria and it seems like human beings are irrelevant and I won’t accept that,’ said Cllr Ryan.

Cllr Ryan was speaking at a meeting of Cork County Council this week where a recommendation from the Blarney Macroom Municipal District called on Cork County Council to finance and carry out the necessary works in the event of the OPW refusing to progress the scheme.

Cllr Ryan said that a reported figure of €300,000 was allocated for the scheme by the OPW, but following a cost benefit analysis, which cost €100,000 to undertake, the OPW seemed to think that the scheme wasn’t worth it.

‘We’re now left with nothing and Cork County Council should undertake the necessary work there as there is still €200,000 left to fund works,’ said Cllr Ryan.

Cllr Gobnait Moynihan (FF) asked how do they, as councillors, tell the people of Crookstown that they’re not important enough.

‘You can’t put a price on peoples’ homes and also it’s a regional road connecting to all parts of West Cork,’ said Cllr Moynihan.

Cllr Michael Creed (FG) said the problem of flooding in Crookstown has been going on for years and he highlighted one shop there that has been flooded two or three times, resulting in them being unable to get insurance.

‘There is a serious problem of flooding in Crookstown and something must be done as the people of Crookstown have suffered enough,’ said Cllr Creed.

Cllr Mary Hegarty (FG) said she supported her colleagues on this matter as she had seen the flooding first hand as she travels from Bantry through the village on a regular basis.

‘We’re trying to promote rural Ireland and we want to keep West Cork open for business as this is a route that large trucks use on their way to Castletownbere,’ said Cllr Hegarty.

Cork County Council chief executive Tim Lucey said it was his understanding that Crookstown hasn’t met the criteria set down by the OPW.

‘We are looking at other ways of getting the work progressed and we will brief the Municipal District when we know more but it is a work in progress,’ said Mr Lucey.