CPO approved for €55m Mayo flood relief scheme

THE Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the Ballina flood relief scheme has been approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Ballina has a long history of flooding events because of the River Moy’s high-water levels, in conjunction with inadequate conveyance capacities of smaller streams/channels and culverts.

The €55 million scheme will protect 297 properties, including 228 residential and family homes at risk from flooding.

Before Christmas it was announced that the project had progressed to the detailed design stage, with the CPO another important step in its delivery.

The scheme will see the construction of new flood walls, repairs to the quay wall, culverts, embankments, cutting, pruning and bankside maintenance and other works.

Six third party submissions were received by the board in relation to the CPO.

Concerns centred around sufficient justification, consideration of alternatives, loss of residential amenity/garden areas, and privacy and disruption to access arrangements. Other issues arising included that alternative broader processes to address rural land reclamation, ground infilling and agricultural drainage have not been explored and that the extent of area required is excessive and exorbitant relative to the identified flood design levels.

Senior planning inspector Fiona Fair, in a report to the appeals board, found that the proposed extent of land acquisition for the scheme is reasonable and proportional.

The process and procedures undertaken by Mayo County Council were fair and reasonable and it has demonstrated the need for the lands and that all the lands being acquired are both necessary and suitable.

“I consider that the proposed acquisition of the lands would be justified by the exigencies of the common good and would be consistent with national, regional and county level planning policies and objectives,” her report stated.

The board agreed with the inspector's findings, confirming the CPO.