(pic: Keith Wiseman)
OVER a thousand residents in Limerick’s St Mary’s Parish have signed a petition calling for new flood defences along the nearby riverbank, claiming the “patch up job” they currently have is totally ineffective.
The petition was organised by local men Richard Lyons and John Hourigan, who claim that millions of euros have been wasted patching the banks of the Shannon without any success. So far, 1,057 residents in St Mary’s Park have signed the petition calling on Limerick City and County Council to take immediate action in remedying the issue.
Mr Hourigan, who has lived in St Mary’s Parish for over 40 years, told the Limerick Post that families are living in fear of having their homes flooded again. He said residents want proper concrete barrier flood defences and insists that the sandbags and earth filling currently in place, are inadequate.
“Tonnes of earth have been washed away. It’s a complete waste of time. Sandbags and earth filling won’t keep the water out and people are scared of their lives of more flooding,” said Mr Hourigan.
“The job still hasn’t been done right after the floods earlier this year. When we get onto the Council they just fob us off and say they are looking after it. We want the job done properly,” he insists.
Residents in St Mary’s Parish believe the riverbank will be breached again and are fearful they will be faced with another nightmare situation like in February of this year when their homes were left under several feet of river water.
“Four times the riverbank has been patched up already. I believe without a shadow of a doubt the river will flood again. The riverbank is a fantastic facility, I’ve seen world champion athlete Paula Radcliffe running out there, and it deserves the job done right,” Mr Hourigan concluded.
According to a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council, the local authority continues to monitor the flood embankment in St Mary’s Park and in particular the section of embankment that failed on February 1 last.
In a statement to the Limerick Post this week, the Council said, “Movement and settlement of this embankment continues and Limerick City and County Council has a contractor on site dealing with these matters as they arise. Temporary re-reinforcement and stabilisation works continue to be carried out on this section of the riverside embankment to prevent flooding.”
Limerick City and County Council has made an application to Government for funding for permanent flood defence work in St Mary’s Park and is currently awaiting a decision.
“The Council has been requested to remove a limited number of temporary sandbags on Verdant Place for the Summer and will arrange to do so over the coming days,” said a Council spokesperson.
