Martin McGuinness can only get to his house at Derryelvin near Newtownbutler via tractor due to his flooded lane RMG110
FLOODING in the Upper Lough Erne area especially, with soaked lands unable to absorb any more rain, continues to create headaches for householders and commercial operators.
For award-winning chef of The Watermill Restaurant, Lisnaskea, Pascal Brissaud, the floods have meant he has had to shut down twice in the space of three weeks, cancelled bookings and has unusable stock.
He told the Herald that three valuable staff had left to take up other jobs and he put last week’s losses at around £20,000 – with insurance ‘unlikely’.
Beyond Newtownbutler, where the road to Wattlebridge has had to close a second time, the floods have forced householders like Martin McGuinness, pictured below, his sister and others to rely on the tractor to get youngsters to school.
He told the Herald: “I live about three miles outside Newtownbutler and our home has been on an island for the last five weeks.
“I have four small children, three of them at school. Our only way in and out to our home is on a tractor. My sister lives beside me and she also has four children, all at school. The school runs are an all-day job because going through the floods is very slow.”
And, he had harsh words to say about back-up support from state agencies.
“In those five weeks that we have been flooded in, not one call came from anyone to offer any support, apart from the Rivers Agency who called the first day to see if I needed a few sand bags.”
However, he explained that because the main road was raised a few feet in 2009, he sandbags were useless.
“I suppose we are just tired of it by now, but the lack of support or interest for some of the people that have been so badly affected by this is what is most annoying.”
Mr Brissaud, who has been operating for the past 16 years, explained that, while his restaurant was not flooded, access to it was, in one part to 3’ deep.
“I was flooded about five years ago, but not to this degree. The only way I can get inside is by 4 x 4 or a tractor.”
He was first flooded put on 7th December ad reopened for three days, 24th, 25th and 27th that month.
“I threw away the stock I had and restocked on the 24th – vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish, cheese, etc – but, after this second flood, you’re frightened to buy in more in case I have to close again.
“Thank God I had no weddings booked, but I could not take bookings for the biggest week of the year, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Saturday and Sunday, and people are under the impression there’s no point in buying vouchers.”
However, like the Newtownbutler families, he hopes to carry on when the floods subside.
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