€28m allocation for anti-flood measures in Bray

A FLOOD relief scheme for Bray, Co Wicklow, first sought by the town council following Hurricane Charlie more than 25 years ago, is to begin next month at a cost of €28 million.

The funding, provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW), will be used to protect more than 650 houses as well as commercial properties from flooding by the river Dargle, which flows through Bray town.

The work, which will take two years, will involve the construction of a new culvert at Bray Bridge, embankments, flood defence walls and channel widening.

Bray Town Council has been working on the current project for six years, but work to secure flood relief measures began in the mid-1980s, town clerk Christine Flood said.

“We first made an application 25 years ago after Hurricane Charlie. There was some flood protection work done in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but more substantial work was needed. This current project has been in the pipeline for the last six years.”

There was widespread flooding and severe damage to properties in 1986 after a large tree which was uprooted during Hurricane Charlie floated down the swollen river, blocked a bridge and led to the Dargle breaking its banks at the People’s Park.

Previous extreme flooding of the river occurred in 1905, when local man James Plunkett drowned, 1931 and 1965. A severe flood followed in the wake of Hurricane Charlie, hitting Bray on the night of August 25th, 1986.

“We don’t have very frequent flooding on the Dargle, but when we do it can be serious,” Ms Flood said.

Preliminary work will begin next month, but work in the river itself will not start until May.

While the project will last two years, work will only take place at certain times of the year due to the constraints of the wildlife and fisheries Acts.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Brian Hayes said the allocation of €28 million was in recognition of the serious personal and economic impact of flooding.

“This major capital investment commitment for Bray is part of the annual capital funding provision of €45 million, which I announced last year, and demonstrates yet again this Government’s and the OPW’s commitment to a sustained capital programme to improve the level of flood-risk protection for homes, businesses and infrastructure.”