Carrick MD Chairman and councillor clash over Dromod discussion

Cllr Des Guckian and Cathaoirleach Cllr Enda Stenson were at loggerheads at the latest Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district meeting where the former had a motion down which asked that "flooding along the street in Dromod, opposite The Hollies, north of Dromod old Barracks, be investigated and alleviated."

When Cllr Guckian veered onto a subject that did not relate to either of his motions tabled at the meeting, Cllr Stenson put his foot down and insisted that if he wanted to discuss another topic, he would have to put it down for the next meeting.

Cllr Guckian had started to talk about how road engineers said that street parking was to "be taken away from the corner to The Brandywell" in Dromod however Cllr Stenson shut him down saying that "this is not flooding related and it's a separate issue."

Cllr Guckian once again attempted to raise the topic however Cllr Stenson said that "if you want to talk about that, then put it down as a motion for the April meeting and we'll discuss the whole lot of it; it's not on the agenda for today and no one has any information on it."

Cllr Guckian said that "they have no right to impose something on us or on the public that will change the whole traffic situation in Dromod" and said that "lorries are coming in through Dromod and tearing through the village and turning right at the bridge at Rooskey."

Cllr Stenson again made that point that the issue Cllr Guckian was referring to had not been put down as a motion for the meeting. 

Cllr Guckian said that he was "being denied his right" with Cllr Stenson retorting that he was "not denying anybody their right; you have two motions down and both were discussed and agreed on and to say I'm denying your right is totally wrong."

Response to motion

A report by the Roads office said gully cleaning was carried out in Dromod in December and they were unaware of any road flooding that occurred. "We can revisit the gully cleaning through the cleaning schedule," the reply stated.

From the response, Cllr Guckian said he understood it would be next year before the gully is cleaned and asked "how can flooding be left there in such a dangerous situation and it could actually cause accidents" and requested the issue be addressed this year.