Action must be taken on flooding
The government taskforce probing the sources and the impact of the heavy flooding in Co Fermanagh last November makes stark recommendations on how best to prepare for a recurrence of the weather conditions which turned the region into a disaster zone.
Worryingly, the inquiry concludes that future flooding on the scale experienced could not be completely prevented, but suggests remedial action needs to be taken at vulnerable locations and the upgrading of the road infrastructure to minimise the impact of flood waters.
Vast swathes were totally submerged in water after days of heavy rainfall and, in some low-lying rural districts that straddle upper and lower Lough Erne, community life was seriously disrupted.
Even in Enniskillen, the floods caused major upheaval with the main Erneside shopping area completely swamped, and at times inaccessible to the public.
For many, the Fermanagh floods were the worst in living memory and the role of the taskforce was obviously to come up with a strategy that would lessen the vulnerability of key public locations and provide farmers with a safer access to their lands.
The government is to spend 1m on upgrading of the most vulnerable roads, but this amount is totally inadequate considering the lengthy arterial network in Fermanagh.
In some parts flooding is an annual occurrence and, no matter the government cutbacks that are now in vogue, both the roads service and the agricultural department must come up with the necessary cash to do a secure job on vital strategic points in the county.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
