OPW respond to Crossmolina community criticisms

ON SITE A crane was used to transport a mechanical digger in Crossmolina last week.

Ciara Galvin

THE Office of Public Works (OPW) has defended the use of a crane as part of their work in cleaning the River Deel, in light of criticisms raised by members of the public in Crossmolina.
Works on cleaning the river were welcomed by the community, however they felt money was being squandered in the process.  Many members of the community have said they are ‘outraged’ with the apparent waste in carrying out the much sought after works on the river to alleviate flood dangers to the town.
Speaking to The Mayo News, community representative Anthony McHale said the community was ‘delighted’ with works being undertaken on the river, but that many people had taken great issue with the level of costs involved in some of the works.
Mr McHale outlined that a crane was brought in by the OPW two months ago to lift tree trunks from the river and added that there was a large number of OPW staff on site also. Just last week a crane was again on site at the River Deel to lift a mechanical digger, something that was also criticised by Mr McHale.
“Tree trunks were being lifted by this huge crane that could have been cut up with a chainsaw and taken away. Ten OPW members were standing around in hard hats,” said McHale, who went on to say that the crane was used again recently to remove Japanese Knotweed from the river.
Mr McHale said he and other members of the community were critical of the use of the crane in place the digger into the river.
“It could have fit down the walkway, it was actually a laughing stock with the amount of OPW staff chaining the digger to the crane. The crane has been used to remove bags of Japanese Knotweed so maybe there’s merit in it being used for this.”
McHale added that the progress was welcomed but that the community did not want to see money being wasted.

Response
In a prompt and detailed response to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday), the OPW stated: “The requirement to utilise a crane was dictated primarily by the need to remove the material without travelling machinery in the river bed having regard to the conservation aspects of the SAC and the presence of Fresh Water Pearl Mussel in the river. Consideration was also taken of the presence of the invasive species Japanese Knotweed along the adjoining river bank and the risk of dislodgement of stone pitching and damage to the access road and car park area were the works to be carried out from the top of the bank.”
It went on to say that while it would have been desirable to carry out this measure in conjunction with the removal of the tree trunks a decision was taken to remove the tree trunks prior to water levels rising in September and seek a window of low water before year end to lower the deflector, by which time a screening for appropriate assessment would have been prepared.’
It concluded that the OPW was ‘satisfied that the most appropriate and effective method to carry out this work was employed’.