Carrick Chamber concerned over winter flood risk

It is difficult to understand how a State body that prides itself as a progressive professional organisation can hang the Sword of Damocles over the town and countryside of Carrick on Shannon. Since 2009, the area has experienced the two highest flood levels in living memory. Rural communities have been cut off for months, premises flooded, business lost, damage incurred and insurance cover refused.

Nonetheless, the ESB are holding back 29 million cubic meters of water in Lough Allen at a time when this could be passed down the river without any negative impact. If the ESB open the sluices to 400mm now, it will be the 7th October (approx.) before minimum navigation level is reached. By opening three more gates at Jamestown and Rooskey, there would be no noticeable increase in downstream water levels.  The table a above compares the actual settings compared to those designed to minimise flood risk.

The Carrick on Shannon Chamber of Commerce once again calls on the ESB and the Office of Public Works to implement the simple and least costly measures possible to minimise the risk of repeat flooding in South Leitrim.