“The OPW needs to get their act together and start delivering on their promises” – Tolan
The 2023 August bank holiday will be one that Bettystown residents will remember forever – for all the wrong reasons.
A lethal combination of extremely high tides and tropical rainfall levels resulted in widespread flooding with more than 30 homes damaged in the Highlands, Eastham Park and Village estates.
Such was the level of flooding that the electricity supply had to be cut off for safety reasons. Many families evacuated their homes but others chose to remain to protect their homes against further damage.
Fire and Rescue Services from Louth and Meath, as well as Meath County Council outdoor crews, were on site throughout the weekend to provide support and assistance to affected residents including the pumping of flood waters and the provision of sandbags. They are continuing to pump flood waters and provide sandbags in affected areas.
The Council is providing assistance with the clean-up operation and a liaison officer and other personnel on site in the Village Inn Hotel, Bettystown from 9.00am this morning, Tuesday 8th August.
The Council has also been in contact with the Community Welfare Service and the affected residents have been notified of The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme which is available in the immediate aftermath of flooding and severe weather events. Further details can be found at gov.ie – Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (www.gov.ie)
Local Councillor Sharon Tolan, who first heard about the unfolding events as she made her way home from holiday in Spain, took to social media to promise that she will do all she can to ensure this never happens again.
In a reference to previous flooding episodes over the years, Cllr. Tolan said she was repeating her call to have flood mitigation measures implemented on estates that were built some years ago on well-known flood plains.
She explained that estates that are currently being built on the same flood plains are subject to strict flood mitigation measures as part of their planning permission but they were not in place for earlier estates.
“Residents were given assurances two or three years ago” she told Drogheda Life. “The OPW needs to get their act together and start delivering on their promises.”
