Progress on East Meath flood prevention works ‘nearly complete’
A local Fianna Fáil councillor has said significant progress is being made on plans to prevent future flooding in East Meath, following a briefing from Meath County Council.
Cllr Stephen McKee said the Council’s Environment Section has confirmed that the Bettystown and Mornington Flood Investigation Report, commissioned by the Office of Public Works (OPW) after flooding from 2023 , is nearing completion.
“The report will form the basis for detailed design of flood protection measures to be constructed in the Bettystown and Mornington area to alleviate flooding into the future,” he said.
Part of the proposed solution includes the installation of fixed pumping stations similar to the one already in place at St Mary’s, Mornington.
“Their location and detail will be finalised during the detailed design of the overall scheme for the area,” Cllr McKee said.
In the meantime, Meath County Council is carrying out maintenance works on local drainage district drains in Bettystown and Mornington to help reduce the risk of flooding. The OPW is also expected to carry out maintenance on its arterial drains later this month.
“The council assure me that their teams continue to inspect flood-prone areas in advance of and during potential storm or flood events, such as during the recent Storm Amy,” Cllr McKee said.
He added that the flooding of several homes in the area in recent years highlights the urgency of the works.
“We know that heavy periods of rainfall will happen again and that flooding is becoming more frequent. The Council and the OPW need to carry out the work as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Cllr McKee said he has been in contact with residents affected by previous flooding.
“It’s a terrible situation that these families find themselves in, and everything must be done to ensure that they and others aren’t impacted again in the future,” he said.