Anger over delay in flood relief scheme in Co Cork

Business people in Bandon on Sunday spoke of their anger and frustration over the delay in starting work on a flood relief scheme for the town as they began a clean-up operation after Storm Desmond caused millions of euros worth of damage to property in the town.

Hundreds of business people and their families began a major clean-up operation at first light after flood waters from the River Bandon started coming up shores and flooding some 50 premises along South Main Street and Oliver Plunkett Street to a depth of around 18in.

Flood waters peaked in River Bandon at around 1.45am yesterday when water levels rose by almost 3.4 metres resulting in some 12 Cork County Council fire tenders pumping an estimated five million gallons of water from the streets of the town on Saturday and Sunday.

Business people are today assessing the damage and, although most reckoned the flood was not as severe as in 2009 when streets were flooded to a depth of four feet resulting in €20 million plus worth of damage, all were furious at the delay in providing a flood relief scheme for the town.

Margaret Daly, who runs a barber shop in Oliver Plunkett Street, said that like most other businesses in the centre of Bandon, she can no longer get flood insurance and she was just "heartbroken" at the devastation the flooding has caused.

“We are here since 1912 – my grandfather and my father before me- my father was flooded in 1988 and I was flooded in 2009 and all we are hearing are promises, promises, promises and nothing is being done – does it take someone to lose their life before we see some action,” she asked.

Ms Daly paid tribute to the fire brigade and local slurry contractors who worked through the night to pump water from the nearby Bridewell river to prevent it bursting its banks which would have caused even more damage.

Jacintha Warren who runs a gift shop on South Main Street was determined to re-open today but was equally frustrated over the delays in the Bandon Relief Scheme which was promised after the 2009 flood but still has not commenced.

“We were able to move our stock up high but I went home at midnight there — there was nothing else I could do, we were just wading around in the water here – I had a place over on the quays that flooded in 2009 and I moved here two years ago but nothing has been done since that last flood.

“It’s an absolute joke but people won’t take it anymore – work has to start on the flood relief scheme because this is devastating — here we are three weeks out from Christmas, the busiest month of the year and businesses in Bandon are cleaning up after another flood.”

Frank O’Leary of O’Leary Fashions revealed that he spent over €400,000 refurbishing after the 2009 flood and although his insurers continued to insure him, they stopped cover two years ago when they saw that nothing was being done in terms of flood relief measures.

“We got sandbags from the council but they were of no use, it came up through the floor and in through the walls – the damage to our floor alone will be €30,000 or more and for this to happen again after 2009, is a testament to the lack of interest by the authorities.

“I am sick of reminding councillors and TDs about this since the last flood and I am very very cross about it and in a few weeks time, we will have somebody around trying to collect rates from us – business in Bandon is down 70pc since 2009 and now this is devastating.”