By Dan Walsh
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Patrick O’Donovan has announced €157,770 of funding to provide demountable flood gates and barriers to affected properties of the Christmas Day flooding in Bridgetown.
Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District Council Cllr Lisa McDonald told WexfordLocal.com; “Having consistently raised the need for flood defences to be put in place since the events of last Christmas, I welcome the announcement today. We need to do all we can to prevent this happening again.”
At the time WexfordLocal.com visited Bridgetown and wrote; “It was heartbreaking to walk through the village of Bridgetown and observe people’s possessions either sitting outside their homes or piled high on lorry-sized skips awaiting collection having been devastated by the torrential Christmas Day rainfall that created flooding across large parts of Co. Wexford.”
“I would be afraid of this happening again,” said one elderly resident, and another asked; “Could it be possible that this is the beginning of things to come at regular intervals?”
And this was two days after the worst weather event to hit south Wexford in living memory. Cllr Jim Codd said; “The people are devastated here. Their Christmas ruined. People trapped in submerged car parks.”
WexfordLocal.com 