This article is from page 15 of the 2008-09-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
A PROLIFERATION of develop- ments in Shannon has led to prob- lematic flooding in various parts of the town.
That’s according to the mayor of the town, Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind).
He made the claim as a public meeting on flooding in Shannon took place last night. The meeting was or- ganised by Green Party members in the town in the wake of bad flood- ing in parts of the town in recent TneKey ela etse
“We have had several meetings in relation to the flooding and plans are afoot to alleviate the problem,” said Councilor Flynn.
“When there is any quantity of rain at all in the town, some people in Ballycasey are unable to flush their toilets and that’s a new estate. Due to the proliferation of developments in NJT-NIDeLO) PMO SLemECD AI Ko0O BLOM Me-Le Core LE TKe and there are huge concerns.
‘2010 is the time penciled in for a revamp of the system in the town and upgrade the system,’ he added.
“There is an acknowledgment by officials in Clare County Council that we do have a problem. We need adequate funding to be made avail- able and prioritise it,’ added Cllr
aan
According to Damon and Karen Wise of the Green Party in Shannon, the town is unprepared for major flooding, due to climate change and storm surges.
“According to the Shannon town maps and from the Clare County Council, the flood defences on the Shannon Estuary banks are supposed to be currently at 2.75 metres high,” they said in a statement.
“We, the people in Shannon expect to know who has the plan for Shan- non, in Shannon, who the people re- sponsible are, and who is responsible for keeping it available.
‘Most of Shannon is on reclaimed land, in and around two metres above sea level, with some storm surges expected to reach six metres within just a few decades. According to the latest news, arctic ice is melt- ing even faster than before, and some scientists fear the Arctic Sea could be completely free of ice in summer by 2013,” added the statement.
“Results of the flooding could mean Sewers would overflow, fecal matter from human and animal would con- taminate the water supply and soil, not to mention property damage, and thus an economical and environmen- tal disaster, and outbreak of water- borne diseases,’ they added.