Groups hit out at delay in public consultation for Blackpool flood relief scheme

He was asked by Cork north central TD Colm Burke if he would make a statement on the matter.

Minister Donohoe said “It is my intention to hold a public consultation on the river Bride (Blackpool) flood relief scheme shortly and Officials in my department are working with independent environmental consultants to progress this.

“As set out in the regulations, during the period of public consultation a copy of the scheme and the environmental impact assessment report relating to the scheme will be available for inspection for a period of not less than 30 days."

He also said members of the public “will be able to make submissions in writing, including by means of electronic communication in relation to the environmental impacts of the scheme.

“Details regarding the period of public consultation and how to make a submission will be made available eon my department’s website in due course”. However, Mr Burke confirmed to the Irish Examiner that no consultation has taken place.

Last week, homes and businesses all over Cork, including Blackpool were flooded during Storm Babet.

Tánaiste Michael Martin told the Dáil that many of the delays in the flood relief schemes were down to objectors.

However, according to plans outlined on the Office of Public Works (OPW) national flood information portal, the planning process alone for both the Glanmire and Midleton schemes have taken between 8 and 10 years.

Bernie Connolly with the Cork Environmental forum said she was appalled that objectors are being blamed for what she said was “bad planning”.

She told the Irish Examiner: “We are not looking at nature-based management for our rivers and streams. It is about hard engineering and that is not the answer.

We are not making room for the rivers we have, and we are treating them badly. We are buildings on flood plains, and we don’t have the natural system to take away the drainage.

“An engineering solution is only sticking a plaster, it is not going to fully address the issues and what is needed is a balanced mix of measures. We are in a biodiversity crisis, and we should be looking at how Copenhagen and other cities have managed these things.

“It is absolutely appalling that objectors such as my community are being blamed for the planning issues”.

Chris Moody, a local resident and representative of the Save the Bride Otters group said:“The Blackpool flooding didn't happen by accident. It happened when Cork City council messed around for years with the water, they are completely responsible for what has happened.

“We took a case against the OPW who conceded that they did not give a proper public consultation and now the case is back with them.

“Paschal Donoghue said a public consultation would take place soon, he said that in June, but nothing has happened.

“The Culvert system is outdated. The council acts like there is no tomorrow with these things, and now tomorrow has come. It is poor planning practice.

“The state has not done enough planning for the river corridors, Blackpool is a super-highway for otters with cubs, bats, you name it, but we are not doing proper surveys for the wildlife.

We want modern thinking, such as storage instead of draining and we want a system that will protect all of Blackpool. When flooding happens, instead of people sitting down and thinking, it’s just politicians shouting to get it fixed.

Cllr John Sheehan, who is also a GP in Blackpool village, told the Irish Examiner that “people just want to get things moving.” 

“Everyone is very frustrated” he said. “We saw this week businesses flooded on the Commons road when the River Bride burst its banks there.

“There are different views, but locals don’t want the place to flood, and we need to get on with the consultation”.

In a statement, the office of the Minister for Public Expenditure said it “previously outlined the consent process underpinning the River Bride (Blackpool) Flood Relief Scheme under the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019 was reverted to an earlier phase following the outcome of a Judicial Review in January 2022.

“Following these proceedings, the department sought supplementary information from the OPW in February 2022. The OPW submitted supplementary information to the department in October 2022. This information can be found on the scheme website at floodinfo.ie.

“The Department retained independent consultants to assess the environmental impacts of the scheme as required by the regulations, which is ongoing. Public consultation on the scheme under Section 7(c)(1) of the Regulations is also required. Details of this consultation will be made available on the Department's website in due course.” 

The OPW said: “The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk — was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018."

It said the schemes were complex and required lengthy planning and decision lead-in times, as well as being adaptable to the risk of climate change. 

“Extensive public consultation is required at various stages to ensure that those affected by a scheme have the opportunity to input into its design and implementation. Ecological and archaeological issues often require in-depth analysis in order to ensure that the technical solution selected will meet the requirements of existing EU and national environmental legislation”.