This article is from page 18 of the 2010-02-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
FUNDING has been made available for a study to see whether it’s pos- sible to prevent future flooding on the Limerick-Galway railway line at Ballycar and other locations. Recent flooding at the location closed the line for more than 70 days. Members of Clare County Council were told last night that the funding has been made available by the Department of Transport and a team of experts will be brought on- board to see what can be done.
A representative of the rail com- pany came to the council’s monthly meeting to fill elected representa- tives in on what efforts are being made to deal with the situation.
He said that the committee of various experts will look at the fre- quency of the flooding, the likely solutions and the cost of any such solutions.
“T have to say that cost will be a considerable factor in a decision on what will be done,” he told the meeting.
Councillors welcomed the fact that
a study is being put in place.
Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said he hoped the report would not be an- other which would gather dust.
“What locals have said to me is that at least part relief could be gained by re-opening the channel that runs through Newmarket and Sixmilebridge. That would not be an expensive solution.”
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) welcomed the funding of the study saying, “I appreciate that we may find this 1s a once-in-20-years event but the de- velopment of the line represents an
investment of €156 million so fur- ther investment at Ballycar is surely warranted to protect that.”
Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) asked if there was “any reason that the OPW and other agencies should not be contributing to the cost of solv- barca mab swam
Cllr John Crowe (FG) said that lo- cal knowledge should be brought to bear on the study and Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said that “if the railway line between Dublin and Kildare was wet, it would be sorted out within 24 hours. This problem must be
solved.”
The issue of the rail link between Limerick and Galway – which is due to open next month – was also raised and Cllr Meaney asked whether it was correct that the journey will take two hours?
The Irish Rail representative con- firmed that would be the case and added that there are six stops to serv- ice various stations along the way.
“Tf you got into your car and went on to the motorway, obeying all the rules, you wouldn’t do it much quicker,” he said.