Measures to reduce the risk of flooding in Kells have been called for at a meeting of the local Municipal District. MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Drew requested that a report be undertaken detailing any deficiencies in the surface water collection system . He wants a programme of works to reduce that risk. In supporting information given by officials it was stated that four locations in the town that were problematic during the recent storm had been identified and remedial works will be undertaken at these locations over the coming months – Culvert in the riverside Estate, pipe crossing on the R147 at the graveyard, Gully on the R164 Athboy Road, and gullies in the back lanes of Headfort Grove. Engineer Matthew Rafferty went through each item with councillors and outlined the measures he propose to take.
Independent Cllr David Gilroy said that these were problems that occurred not only in Kells but across the municipal district. What was needed was an audit to be taken across older towns in the county where there was “very old” water infrastructure. When there was a deluge the water simply could not get away and water came back up the gullies. In Athboy, for instance, the council relied on 200-year-old stone gullies to get the water away.
Sinn Fein Cllr Michael Gallagher said it would be worthwhile consulting with the Office of Public Works (Opw) to see what could be done about the problem. Director of Services Dara McGowan, replying to a question from Cllr Eugene Cassidy whether winter gritting might block up gullies, said it was more likely to be caused by leaves. He said that the council had carried out a substantial gully cleaning programme across the MD in the last 6-8 months.
Cllr Drew expressed the opinion that the condition and capacity of the existing storm water infrastructure was not sufficient for the continuing development of Kells town. He said that in relation to the Front Lands and Back Lands, he knew there was a proposal 15-20 years ago there was a proposal to install a new line running at the back of Eureka and down into the stream. He said during the last storm he had a phone call from a woman at 1 am worried that the storm waters were coming up through the house. That line was obviously not capable of taking any more capacity, he said.
The councillors agreed that the first objective was to get an audit of infrastructure completed, then approach a Government department to see what funding might be available.
