COMMITMENTS TO ENSURE Kilbaha will not be cut off should future storms occur have been issued by senior engineers in Clare County Council.
An appeal for road maintenance on “the emergency road” from the Loop Head Peninsula from the L21421-0 at Moneen in Kilbaha to the junction of the R487-132 was made by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) at a recent sitting of the West Clare Municipal District.
He cited “ongoing storms and floods” in his request while highlighting, “this is the one and only exit when roads are closed off after storm damage”.
Senior executive engineer with the West Clare MD, Alan Kennelly stated in response, “The L-21421-0 or emergency road is a local tertiary road with no residents along the road. As such it has not been included in this year’s Schedule of Municipal District Works. The L-21422-0 which joins the L-21421-0 to the R-487 serves a number of residents and is included in Year 2 of the 3-year Roadworks Programme. The L-21421-0 is unlikely to be included in future roadworks programmes. If an alternate source of funding is found, then we will carry out works”.
Kennelly continued, “I take on board the councillors point about the increased frequency of storms, and I believe that both main roads into Kilbaha were submerged in a storm event in 2014. Should a similar flood happen again Clare County Council will ensure that the L-21421-0 is passable and that the people of Kilbaha remain connected by road to the rest of Clare”.
Ongoing work by the Council was acknowledged by Cllr Keating, “we know what happens on the coastline when we have storms and floods,” he commented. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF).
