Drivers took a chance in crossing this flooded stretch of the Newbridge Road outside Lisnaskea RMG12
FLOODING in Fermanagh is not “an act of God” but rather the result of “complete negligence” by the council and Government.
That was the message from members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, who are to write to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) pleading for help tackling the issue of flooding in the area.
The motion was passed at last week’s monthly meeting of the council, days before the county was hit with flooding for a second time in a month. Following the damage and disruption caused by Storm Clodagh a few weeks beforehand, Storm Desmond wrecked havoc across the area at the weekend, causing widespread flooding and damage to homes, land and businesses.
At last week’s council meeting at the Townhall in Enniskillen, Independent Cllr Bernice Swift raised the issue of flooding in areas such as Boho and Derrygonnelly, where residents were still recovering from the after affects of Clodagh when Desmond hit on Friday and Saturday.
Calling for a timely and concerted response to the flooding, Cllr Swift said “floods don’t know religion or class” and called the ongoing situation “a continuous catastrophe.”
“These floods are not an act of God,” she said. “It’s complete negligence. A blind eye has been turned for too long. In this day and age it’s just not good enough. Basically we’re suffering from a 19th century approach to a 21st century problem.”
Cllr Swift said proposals to help ease the situation and prevent further floods had been proposed to the Council in 2008 but had been shot down after councillors were told there wasn’t enough money to implement the measures.
“That is no longer an excuse, we should demand this now seen as a matter of priority,” concluded Cllr Swift, who added a long term response was needed.
It was agreed at the meeting to write to the OFMDFM to seek funding to put the flooding action plan into motion. Councillors are also to discuss the matter at their Policy and Resource Committee meeting which took place on Wednesday, December 9.
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