Raheny businesses call for action on flooding

DUBLIN City Council has invited members of Raheny Business Association (RBA) to a meeting later this month to discuss progress on plans for a flood prevention scheme in the area.

Up to a dozen businesses fell victim to flash flooding on Friday, July 26, when a heavy downpour led to increased water volumes in the nearby Santry River.

Although not as serious as previous flooding incidents, local traders are now fearful of what could lie ahead in the winter months during more prolonged periods of rainfall.

According to Raheny Business Association, the Santry River has flooded every year for the past five years, causing major damage to businesses on Main Street and Howth Road. It estimates the cost of this damage to be in the region of hundreds of thousands of euro.

Following ongoing representations from Raheny Business Association, a project team was set up by Dublin City Council to deal with the flooding problem. A solution was agreed in July 2012 but no work has been carried out to date.

It is understood that the proposed solution put forward by experts would

‘throttle back’ the flow of the river when it is in flood. Effectively it would hold water back upstream of Raheny village during periods of heavy rainfall. This would only allow a lower volume of water downstream instead of it arriving all at once.

Some business owners are now questioning why they are paying rates to Dublin City Council while the flooding problem persists.

During the recent flooding in Raheny, customers at Raymar Hairdressing on Main Street were unable to leave the salon until the rising waters had abated. Owner Marion Foster said she would withhold future rate payments until Dublin City Council tackled the flooding problem.

“It wasn’t as serious as what I experienced in 2011 but it goes to show that nothing has changed since then and the potential for serious flood damage in the winter months ahead is very real,

? Ms Foster told Northside People.

“I have suffered flood damage on three occasions but have only claimed on my insurance once. As a result my insurance company now excludes flood cover on my policy and I understand that this is a problem experienced by other business owners in Raheny.

?

She added that one flooding incident caused e10,000 worth of damage.

“I am now refusing to pay any further rates to Dublin City Council until they deal with this issue,

? she said.

“And when they come looking for the money, I’ll be telling them exactly why I won’t be paying it.

?

Cllr Pat Crimmins (FG) called on Dublin City Council to carry out the flood prevention works without further delay.

“As a councillor and local resident of Raheny, I feel very let down by Dublin City Council that this work has not been completed,

? he said.

“If the action plan had taken place as planned, the flooding last Friday could have been avoided.

?

Cllr Mícheál
Mac Donncha (SF) was also highly critical of Dublin City Council in the wake of the July 26 flooding.

“No local authority can control the weather but local authorities and
central government are duty bound to take all measures possible to
prevent flooding,

? he said.

“The delay in carrying out the works on the Santry
River upstream from Raheny Village can only be described as
disgraceful.

?

Dublin City Council confirmed that two options to tackle the flooding of the Santry River were presented in outline on July 6, 2012, and the views and input from residents and public representatives was sought.

“It was clearly pointed out at this meeting that there were a number of hurdles yet to be crossed including legal and statutory ones,

? said a council spokesperson.

“Details of the suggested schemes were published and 300 letters were sent to these houses, an advert was put in a local paper and a meeting arranged at a local community centre to answer any queries.

?

She added:

“The spokesperson explained that the potential scheme has been split into two phases – the Harmonstown Road constraint and the works between the Howth Road and Main Street. The scheme construction is to be carried out by contractors.

“Detailed designs were carried out and preparation of tender documents, specifications, bills of quantities and a preliminary health and safety statement is underway for the phase 1 works. The contract documents are being finalised for phase 1 and tenders are to be sought in the month of August.

“Following this tender process an application for funding will be made to the Office of Public Works. At this stage a possible construction programme will be identified.

?