Plea to clean Mayo's rivers and prevent flooding

A PLEA has again gone out to clean rivers in Mayo to prevent flooding.

During a recent meeting in Westport, a local councillor received a text message from a stranded local resident imploring: 'We need help'.

That was in November, when parts of the Kilmeena and Carrowholly area flooded, with Councillor Johnny O'Malley putting it down to the Mayour River not having been cleaned for 20 years.

Faced with 3ft of water on the road, families were left trapped in their homes for days, unable to get in or out.

He saw children being lifted out of a transport box and deposited on dry land.

Councillor O'Malley, who has previously raised the issue, asked management at the December meeting of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District if contact has been made with the Department of the Environment or OPW to see if rivers can be cleaned.

This matter has to be addressed once and for all, he said, and they have a duty to help people.

There's nothing wrong with cleaning rivers, he added, saying the wildlife will survive.

Similar issues in the Louisburgh area were outlined by Councillor Chris Maxwell, where the Carrowniskey River has flooded twice since they last met.

The crux in a lot of it was the cleaning of the rivers, he agreed, and a county-wide plan is needed.

Elected members were told the rivers in question are under the management of the council's environment section. The issues were relayed back to them and are being considered.

They have been investigating some of them already.