SOME concerns about the preferred option for Bantry’s €40 million flood relief scheme were expressed following a meeting of the Western Division of Cork County Council.

The issue was raised by Brendan Meagher, the county engineer, when he presented a bi-monthly flood relief report for the municipal district areas of West Cork, Bandon and Kinsale.

He pointed out that 145 people attended the recent public consultation day, which outlined the preferred flood relief option for the town.

Cllr Danny Collins (Ind Ire)  told the engineer: ‘I have spoken to a lot of them since and some have concerns about the plans, especially in certain areas.’

The councillor suggested that ‘some of the plan will have to be subject to a re-think because, down the line, I don’t know what is going to happen’.

After the meeting, Cllr Collins spoke with the county engineer. He also explained to The Southern Star that some members of the farming community, who own lands that are already prone to flooding, are worried about the use of their property as a catchment for surface water.

Catchment areas are designed to slow down water entering Bantry town by creating deep trenches in the landscape. But some farmers worry that this measure will negatively impact their property.

Cllr George Gill (FF) called on everyone involved in the public participation process to ‘make sure that members of the public are fully aware of what is going on now so there are no delays later on’.

The county engineer said the preferred flood option for Bantry is on its own dedicated website for all to see, and he assured Cllr Collins that local concerns would be addressed.

In addition to the flood relief scheme, Mr Meagher said the €15 million replacement of an old Victorian brick-built culvert in Bantry will be done ahead of the flood relief project.

He said the Bantry culvert project is currently at the design stage, but that would be completed by the end of this year, or in January 2027. Then, he said it would go out to tender in the second quarter and that a contractor could be on site by the summer.

Cllr Collins said he had previously tabled a motion seeking a timeline for the project because locals would be keen to see the work commence in Spring instead of the summer months.

He also paid tribute to council staff, and the fire brigade, because when there are high tides or torrential rain they are out with sandbags and pumps.

Cllr John Michael Foley (FG) said the flood relief works are critical to every area because ‘there is water everywhere.’ He said major flood schemes and proper drainage schemes to clear road surfaces are needed.

During the discussion, Cllr Collins once again raised the flooding problems in Ballylickey, where a number of houses have been repeatedly flooded over the years.

He said the residents believe it is the lack of dredging and the clearing of local waterways since the 1980s that has made the situation worse.

The councillor said the flooding at St Colum’s GAA grounds is proof of that. He said the changing rooms, the hall, and the club’s new gear, had been destroyed by flooding.

According to Cllr Collins, the problem stretches from Ballylickey to Pearson’s Bridge, up to Carriganass, and he alleged: ‘It all has to do with dredging.

‘Give it another few years and properties further upstream will be flooded as well,’ he warned.