Crossmolina flooded with fear again

STANDING TOGETHER Public representatives and Crossmolina residents standing on the dry bed of the River Deel back in June, demanding that the OPW take action.

Deel waters rise dangerously high after season’s first downpour

Anton McNulty

RESIDENTS in Crossmolina were on high alert yesterday evening (Monday) as the River Deel’s waters rose dangerously high, prompting fears it would burst its banks.
The north Mayo town was badly flooded last December, and residents were afraid it was all about to happen again when water levels came perilously close to overflowing after  heavy weekend rain. However, the levels peaked around 6pm, and the residents breathed a cautious sigh of relief, as it appeared they had escaped a repeat of last December’s nightmare. Part of Upper Chapel Street did flood, but fortunately no homes were affected this time.
However, community leaders in the town say it is inevitable that the town will be flooded again this winter, as the river has not been cleaned out.
Local man Anthony McHale told The Mayo News that the people of Crossmolina were in no doubt that the river would burst its banks.
“We never expected that the river would come close to flooding [as early as] September 12. It is a concern. If it is like this in September, what will it be like in November and December? We’re in for a rollercoaster of a winter, and it is beyond doubt that the town will get flooded again,” he said.

Frustrated
Earlier this summer, the OPW agreed to carry out work to clean part of the river, but the work has yet to start. The presence of the invasive plant Japanese Knotweed is believed to be among the reasons the work has not taken place.
The residents had threatened to clean the river themselves in June, but they stepped back when the OPW agreed to carry out the remedial work.
Locals have been left frustrated with the lack of action since.
“We were told the work would begin at the start of September, but they [the OPW] did not want to start when the water levels were high. There is zero [work] done … we are being pushed from Billy to Jack with it. Cleaning the river might not solve the problem, but it will help. At least [it will] get the water out of the town as fast as possible to the lake,” he said.

‘Stop making excuses’
Local councillor Michael Loftus raised the issue of flooding at yesterday’s (Monday) monthly meeting of Mayo County Council. He agrees it is inevitable the town will flood again this winter.
“We need the OPW to clean below and above the bridge. Every excuse is being used for not carrying out the work, but they should stop making excuses and spend the money.
“The land is so saturated that it cannot take the water, but we did not expect it to happen this early in the year. At this stage it is inevitable that the town will flood again,” said the Fianna FΡil councillor.
Cllr Loftus added that businesses and residents could not get insurance to protect them from flooding, and he called on the Government to help provide cover for them.

Trapped
In a separate incident, a man in his 30s in Keenagh was rescued by neighbours after he became trapped by rising flood waters close to his home on Monday morning. The incident happened at approximately 7am, when the man went out to a shed near his home and could not return because of the rising water. The man’s neighbours came to his aid with a tractor, and using a rope, pulled him through the water to safety.
Cllr Loftus said this incident, which could easily have ended in the loss of a life, highlighted the urgent need for works to be carried out to prevent further flooding in flood-prone areas.