Moate business at risk of flooding this winter

An IT business in Moate is in danger of being flooded again this winter unless Westmeath County Council puts additional street drainage in place, it was claimed at the July meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District.

Cllr Vinny McCormack told the meeting that the business in question, which is located on Main Street and was named in the motion put before the meeting as ‘We-solve IT’, has experienced “very serious flooding” in the past, and will be prone to flooding again this winter if flood alleviation measures are not put in place.

“Moate has had four flooding incidents over the last four years, and extreme weather events like flash flooding are becoming more common” said Cllr McCormack, who asked the council to “urgently put in place” additional street drainage or gullies on Main Street, from St Patrick’s Church to the business premises of ‘We-solve IT’”

“There is currently one gully on this section and the shop mentioned has flooded on three separate occasions in the past two years” said Cllr McCormack “we can’t let another winter go by and let this business run the risk of being flooded again.

In supporting the motion, Cllr Tom Farrell said flash flooding “affects the whole Main Street of Moate” and he also called for additional street drainage to be put in place.

In their written response to Cllr McCormack’s motion, the council undertook to carry out an appraisal of the area, and said any works to be carried out would be considered “in the context of the Members’ priorities and the funding available.”