Kildare Co Council asked to be more proactive on drain maintenace
This photo is for illustrative purposes only
A PROPOSAL to introduce a more proactive approach to drain and gully maintenance in Newbridge was discussed by members of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District recently.
The motion, put forward by cllr Chris Pender, calls on the council to establish a structured programme of inspection and cleaning aimed at reducing flood risks across the area.
Under the proposal, the programme would identify flood-prone streets, housing estates, and known problem locations, prioritising them for action.
Cllr Pender also suggested that maintenance should be carried out on a scheduled basis ahead of forecast periods of heavy rainfall, rather than relying on reactive responses to public call-outs.
In addition, the motion recommends that the council provide annual reports to elected members outlining which locations were treated, how frequently works were carried out, and the outcomes observed.
In response, the municipal district Office stated that routine gully maintenance is already carried out across the district. Staff have identified a number of locations susceptible to flooding and currently address these as part of ongoing maintenance efforts.
However, the report notes that the council is not in a position to expand gully cleaning operations due to limited resources.
Cllr Pender asked for the council to map gullies around the town, to help identify problem areas, and referenced “gullies to nowhere”, which are drains that have no use and have been contributing to recent flooding.
Cllr Pender asked the council to be “proactive” in this regard to address problems coming down the line, rather than reacting later on.
“It could save some money in the long term," said the Social Democrat councillor.
Cllr Suzanne Doyle asked whether the council could put forward a programme for the renewal of drains, especially in areas prone to flooding.
A council representative reiterated that it currently maintains drains proactively and that there are currently no financial resources to map out drains in the area.
