Time for talking over as urgent action needed on Blackpool floods – Kelleher

Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, Billy Kelleher, says the time for talking is over and urgent action is needed to address the devastation that has hit Blackpool over the past couple of years.

Despite an OPW review of the frequent flooding of Blackpool village, Deputy Kelleher said families and businesses cannot afford to wait for this report to be completed and more resources are urgently needed to find a solution.

“People’s livelihoods are being decimated on a frequent basis in Blackpool and it is ripping the heart out of the village,” said Deputy Kelleher.

“All resources must now be made available to find out once and for all the causes of the flooding but more importantly we need to deal with it urgently. The time for talking is over.

“People in Blackpool have invested in their homes and businesses and they are being continually flooded, however, there are no solutions coming from the Government or Cork City Council. Businesses and families are already struggling to survive, they now can’t get insurance and the constant flooding is devastating. It is not good enough to attribute the flooding to freak weather when it is happening so often, we need answers now.

“While no one can totally prevent the consequences of a flash flood, there are more measures that can be taken to protect the city from exposure to rising tide levels and potential floods.”