Debris blocking key west Kerry bridge, says councillor

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Concerns have been aired over the potential flooding of riverside properties in Dingle town, at a recent council meeting.

Councillor Robert Brosnan called for urgent action to clear up of the River Milltown, the main river on the outskirts of the town.

Cllr Brosnan tabled a motion at a recent Castleisland/Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District meeting, calling on Kerry County Council (KCC) to remove the rocks under the two eyelets of Milltown Bridge.

He warned that, during spring tides, water can ride up onto the roads in the Milltown area, and that debris were continuing to build up in the river basin.

“When there’s rainfall and when there’s a spring tide, you could reach over the bridge and touch the water,” said Cllr Brosnan.

However, KCC said Milltown Bridge has been inspected recently and the rocks, both upstream and downstream of the bridge, had been in place for a considerable amount of time.

They said there was no recent flooding events recorded near the bridge.

Cllr Brosnan said he was ‘frustrated’ with the reply and asked which organisation was responsible for the state of the river.

He asked KCC to write to the ‘relevant’ authority to request this work be carried out ‘as a matter of urgency’.

A council official advised that there would be ecological and archaeological issues with any removal of material from the river as well as the requirement of permissions from multiple bodies.