Councillors seek survey on drainage needs

Elected members are seeking the introduction of a drainage survey model similar to the system adopted by the council in keeping track of what roads need fixing across the county.

However, councillors were told there was only a “narrow window” in which to get work done, between various environmental restrictions and taking the wishes of local landowners into account.

The survey request, by councillors in the Cavan-Belturbet area, was made at a meeting of the local Municipal District. The issue was raised by Fianna Fáil’s Sean Smith.

He said there are a number of streams that run into the Woodford Canal, impacting the surrounding areas. Cllr Smith suggested that now is the “opportune time” to get work done in clearing those tributaries.

He remembered that, before the council took over, the responsibility of clearing streams was down to the local drainage board, which measured up a annual programme of work. However, now the local authority carried out clearances on a “rota” basis.

It was Cllr Smith who first hit upon the fact that the period of getting such work done was “very small”.

“In Spring you can’t do anything because the farmers have meadows,” and, come Winter, the ground is too wet. Yet, he warned, if clearances aren’t carried out, landowners would have “serious problems” further down the line when the flooding comes round again.

Party colleague John Paul Feeley stated that drainage required “particular focus”, and with monies to be spent, it was important that the public saw “value” for it.

Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty also supported the stance, questioning the “kitty” available, which amounted only in the tens of thousands of euro per annum and was managed centrally.

Director of Services at Cavan County Council, Brendan Jennings, agreed that landowners did not want council staff on their land in Spring, while the local authority also had to be aware of nesting season (start of March to end of July) and the impact any work might have on fisheries also.

Senior Engineer for the MD, Paul Mulligan explained: “When one season ends, another season starts.”

He accepted that councillors would like to see progress made on a programme of works, but added that Cavan-Belturbet MD was “massive” in terms of the network of rivers and streams that had to be assessed.