Flooded gardens at Mill Lane prompt call for urgent drainage solutions

In a motion proposed by Cllr Paddy O'Rourke at Ballinamore Municipal District meeting on Monday, July 22, he called on Ballinamore M.D. to deal with the drainage issue to the rear of local authority houses Number 1 to 6 at Mill Lane, Bredagh, Carrigallen.

In his motion, Cllr O'Rourke said the flooding of the tenants back gardens suggested there is a blockage at the entry of the open drain as it goes under ground for a distance before reaching the main drain.

"I had complaints from the residents that they're being denied use of their back garden because of flooding. It's been building over a couple of years but particularly over the last spring because of the incessant rainfall we've had," Cllr O'Rourke said.

"My suspicion is there's only a short area of this drain that's providing the problem. Very little intervention from the Council will resolve this, but resolved it must be.

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"Their back gardens were sopping wet even in the month of April and May when most people would aspire to enjoy their back gardens."

In a reply from the Director of Services, Housing and Community, Corporate Services, Cultural and Emergency Services, Cllr O'Rourke was told that a technical inspection at this location confirmed there is a blocked drain.

A substantial amount of branches and shrubbery have been pushed into the drain, which is also obstructed by trees and overgrown vegetation along the banks. 

To remedy this situation, the Housing Department will need to coordinate with the two private homeowners to gain access to their rear gardens using a digger to clean the drain from their side. The excavated material will be mounded on their side of the drain since there is no access for cleaning from the Local Authority side.

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"I'm happy with the proposed solution but it's the timescale. We need this to happen as soon as possible because otherwise as we proceed into the Autumn, there will be more rainfall and it will only aggravate the situation more," Cllr O'Rourke said.