This article is from page 20 of the 2013-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
WORK on a € 7.1m project aimed at improving flood defences in Ennis is expected to get underway next month.
On Thursday, Brian Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Finance (OPW), signed a contract with Wills Bros Ltd of Foxford, Co Mayo, for the construction of a major flood defence scheme in Ennis, County Clare.
Work on the River Fergus Lower (Certified) Drainage Scheme Contract will commence in March and will see flood defences being installed from Bank Place Bridge in the town centre to Doora Bridge in Clarecastle. The € 7.1m project will take approximately 18 months to complete and will lead to the protec- tion of 849 residential and 425 nonresidential properties on completion.
Welcoming today’s contract signing, Mayor of Ennis Cllr Peter Considine stated, “This development comes as a major boost to residents and businesses located along the banks of the River Fergus, particularly those badly affected by severe flooding in November 2009. I would like to compliment the OPW for its commitment to bringing this project to fruition and ensuring that adequate flood defences are provided in Munster’s largest town. We have already witnessed the benefits of flood defence works in the Abbey Street car park and I look forward to other parts of the town and its environs benefiting from the proposed scheme.”
The scheduled works complement a number of other schemes identified in the Ennis Main Drainage and Flood Study Preliminary Report.
Last month, Ennis Town Council signed a contract for flood relief works to be carried out in the Watery Road / Elm Park area of the town. The € 307,000 (approx) project involves the construction of 400 metres of new river embankment and a pump station.
Elsewhere, Ennis Town Council says it expects that the tender documents for the proposed Foiruisce Scheme will be completed and forwarded to the OPW in the coming weeks and that the tender process will commence during March. Meanwhile, the documents for the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme (St Flannan’s/Tobairteascain – Ballybeg Lake Flood Relief Works) are currently with An Bord Pleanala and the council is awaiting its determination.