Call for lowering level of River Shannon gains support at Leitrim County Council
Cllr Des Guckian requested his motion proposing to lower the level of the River Shannon by one metre be circulated to Longford and Roscommon County Councils.
It has been 15 years since the major flood events in Carrick-on-Shannon and the long-awaited flood relief scheme is finally expected to enter the planning stage by mid-year.
Cllr Des Guckian has repeatedly proposed motions to lower the level of the Shannon to tackle this, proposing it again at January’s Council meeting.
“It’s time for plain speaking and action regarding one of the most serious problems facing us.
"Too much has been covered up and now we must act decisively,” he said.
Cllr Guckian proposed lowering the Shannon by one metre, citing the fact that the river rose by one metre above normal flood levels in 2009.
“In November and December of 2009, the Shannon flooded all over the place. Carrick-on-Shannon looked like Venice and thousands of acres of good farmland were under the floods. All over Shannonside towns and villages were inundated.”
Cllr Guckian also commented that if the gates at the exit of Lough Allen had burst open, a ‘tsunami would have happened.’
He also remarked having no faith in flood barriers that are proposed.
“It is grossly unfair to expect us to live in swamp land,” he added.
He requested the motion be passed onto Roscommon and Longford County Councils.
The motion was seconded by Cllr Sean McGowan and Cllr Brendan Barry.
“I think the water levels should be reduced and I would hope we never see situations like we saw in 2009 and to a lesser extent in 2015. I hope this’ll be taken on board,” Cllr McGowan said.
“If you have a channel and it's a certain width only the same amount of water can travel through it whereas if it's wider and the level rises it might take off that overflow, so works need to be done,” Cllr Brendan Barry added.
Cllr Barry also highlighted the need for works at the weir in Jamestown, noting that it restricts water flow and contributes to elevated water levels in Carrick-on-Shannon.