Volume of water coming onto roads is ‘desperate’

During the recent torrential rainy spell, Fine Gael councillor Peter McVitty witnessed water pouring onto roads in different areas at a “desperate” rate and described it as a most “serious” problem that needs addressing.

Speaking at last week’s virtual meeting of the Cavan Belturbet Municipal District, he called for a programme to tackle this issue, which is causing road surfaces to deteriorate.

“It is not all the council’s fault – there is a mixture of two in it – landowners and the Council. I think there should be somebody in the council tasked with driving around the county on a real bad wet day and witness the problem at first hand. There is no point in going out to look for it on a dry day, because you won’t see it,” suggested Cllr McVitty.

“This is going on for years and I would ask that the council have a look at this problem. It can be dealt with and I would ask for the support of this Municipal District for this action to be advanced,” he added.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Madeleine Argue (FG) and also supported by Cllrs Patricia Walsh and John Paul Feeley (FF).

Cllr Sean Smith (FF) also supported. “The water coming out from different places is doing untold damage.

“If we were to identify the areas where most damage is being caused, we could bring back the details and deal with it. It would make you cry the serious amount of water that is getting onto different roads. I know we don’t have the manpower to go out and do everything.

“We are now getting torrential rain and it is not like what it was 30 or 40 years ago. It comes at a horrific speed – we have a problem and I support Cllr McVitty,” said Cllr Smith.

Responding to the debate Cllr McVitty said “he was not pointing the finger at anybody in particular, farmers or anybody, but there is a major problem”.

The chairman Brendan Fay (Ind) also supported the motion, saying it was “a good idea”.