Dunboyne Combined Residents Association
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TO: The Editor, The Meath Chronicle - 22.12.02
Less Rain - More Floods
Dear Sir
I refer to the article published in The Chronicle on 12.12.02 headed: "Volume Of Rain To Blame For Floods: Co Manager" . The volume of rain that fell to cause the flooding in Dunboyne last month was less than that which fell in 1954 in a comparable period of time yet there was much more severe flooding. The run off in 1954 was 54% while the run off in 2002 was 100%. This was so because in place of natural soakage we now have hardcore/concrete areas due to development since 1954.
In fact it is interesting to note that the rainfall on 14th November ranked only 6/7 place in capacity over the last century. Such a fall would not have caused the widespread flooding and damage to property had natural flood plains and soakage areas not been taken out. Information and statistics to support this can be found in the records of the Irish Meteorological Records.
The report of the County Council meeting given in the article referred to above is an exercise in self defence and self justification. It is appreciated that responsibility and liability are intimately connected in this flooding issue and the role of the County Council in these two respects was not addressed. The contributions made by County Councillors for the Dunshaughlin Area, as reported, are patronising and devoid of constructive suggestions towards the resolution of the flooding problem in Dunboyne and Clonee. Damage to property and quality of life experienced by residents and compensation for same was also not addressed.
The Interim Report from Consultants M. C. O'Sullivan is awaited and will be welcomed. It is hoped that this will indicate work to be undertaken early in the New Year.
It is never too early to begin substantive work to ensure that Dunboyne and Clonee become flood free areas and to ensure that the fear of flooding is removed.
Dunboyne Combined Residents Association
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