Floods rise again... as plan chaos is revealed
DEVASTATED flood-hit locals are preparing to flee their homes over fears that their multi-million-euro defence system will fail them.
This emerges as the Irish Mail on Sunday reveals how planning chiefs allowed homes to be built on flood plains.
The Shannon also rose above record levels yesterday.
THIS is the picture that shows that Ireland’s planning authorities gave developers permission to build on flood plains.
The 13.8-acre site was zoned by Athlone Council for development in 2007. But this weekend the massive tract of land – where 96 apartments were to have been built – looked more like a lake than a field for homes. And the water levels are expected to rise even further there if the rain forecast by Met Éireann continues to fall.
Yesterday, local farmer Paul Hannon, who was among those who lodged objections against the development with both the local authority and An Bord Pleanála, said: ‘I did object in my own right at the time. I was concerned about how it would push the water out to us.
‘And if they continue to build on flood plains they will keep pushing the water onto us.’
Mr Hannon said he was told at the time that the development would have ‘a minuscule impact’ on water displacement. ‘We had floods here in 2006 and even after that the council and An Bord Pleanála gave planning permission for building.
‘And only the bubble burst, those apartments would have been built.
‘You can’t stand in the way of every development, otherwise you would have a dismal country. But this is a flood plain and you can’t have progress at the expense of other people. I was criticised at the time when I objected and my worst fears have been confirmed.
‘And if the rain forecast is going to come, then we will be talking about the flood of 2015/2016 and not the floods of 2009.
‘The water levels are at the same level they were in 2009 and only people are using pumps they would be flooded. But all the pumps are doing is recirculating the sewage and the flood waters – at a certain point the pumps are ineffective.’
The water-logged site, where almost 100 prospective buyers would have bought a home, is located next to the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone, where Princess Grace of Monaco had afternoon tea during a visit to Ireland with her husband Prince Ranier and their children, Princess Caroline and Prince Albert in 1961.
According to locals, land in the surrounding area has been prone to flooding for generations. But despite concerns raised by both residents and the Shannon Fisheries Board about building on a known flood plain, Athlone Council granted planning permission in 2007 for a leisure centre, creche, 96 apartments and 46 five-bed and threebedroom houses to be built on the now submerged site. This decision by the council was appealed to An Bord Pleanála. An inspector for the planning authority visited the site and in her subsequent report she stated: ‘A large portion of the southern section of the appeal site is subject to flooding.’
But the official then concluded: ‘Certainly there is merit in the appellants’ concerns regarding the impact of the cumulative loss of flood plain to development in the wider context, but I consider that the responsibility for such an assessment would not lie with the developer in this instance but would more appropriately lie with the local authority. I am therefore satisfied that the applicant has submitted sufficient evidence to corroborate its assertions that the proposal could be satisfactorily developed without giving rise to concerns about flooding and impact on adjoining properties.’
The site’s developer was Paddy McCaul, a former president of the Football Association of Ireland. A report prepared at the time by consultants White Young Green for the developer stated: ‘The proposal will not have any significant impact on the River Shannon and will not give rise to displacement of floodwater. The loss of flood storage is so small it is not discernible.’
In August 2008, An Bord Pleanála found the site where the 46 houses were to be built was ‘low-lying and
‘My worst fears have
been confirmed’
prone to flooding’. As a result, it refused to give permission for the proposed five-and three-bedroom homes to be built. However, An Bord Pleanála gave the go-ahead for the 96 apartments, the leisure centre and creche.
This weekend a spokesman for Athlone Council insisted officials did not know the extent to which the site would flood when they granted planning permission.
He added: ‘Athlone Town Council and An Bord Pleanála both granted permission because the flood risk was not identified to the same extent at that time. The land was zoned for development and up to 2009 the land was thought not to be at risk of flooding. Members of the council approved the zoning.
‘In 2009, the river level rose half a metre more than the recorded highest level and we have eliminated the zoning. Now planning permission cannot be granted for anything on the lands.’