There was a mixture of joy, relief and acceptance among the Arklow community last week as An Bord Pleanála finally gave their approval to the Office of Public Works’ (OPW) Flood Relief Scheme plans.
he estimated €28 million investment by the OPW will see Arklow’s river front and harbour undergo major works to improve its flood defences. Wicklow County Council will act as the lead authority in delivering the scheme, with full funding and support provided by the OPW under the Capital Flood Relief Programme.
Arklow has a long history of flooding, arising either from the Avoca river or from the sea. The infamous Hurricane Charlie wreaked havoc in 1986, causing substantial flooding and damage to local infrastructure. Thankfully, the approved plans are geared towards such events. Built to last 100-200 years, the defences are designed to withstand a 1-in-100-year flood event from the river, as well as 1-in-200-year tidal flood event.
The works include elements to enhance the public realm, strengthening works to the existing quay walls and Arklow Bridge, and the construction of flood walls with intermittent glass panelling.
There will be river dredging work to deepen the river, the introduction of new debris and gravel traps to improve conveyance and at the dock, in the harbour area, demountable flood barriers will be installed at two locations to allow access to the shipyard and public slipway.
Other work includes the removal of the existing public realm at the River Walk and South Quay, including the existing footpaths, lighting, parking spaces and seating.
They will be demolished and replaced with new parking spaces, footpaths, planters and a floating pontoon.
The planning of the project has been a long and arduous process with many complicating factors.
Among them are Irish Water’s work on the Waste Water Treatment plant, changes in EU environmental legislation and, chiefly, the Arklow community’s disapproval of the original plans.
Since plans were made public in 2016 many Arklow residents have endured a six year struggle as they lobbied for amendments and concessions. One of the key groups who affected change in this regard have been the Save Maritime Arklow group. Spearheaded by local councillor Peir Leonard, the group’s tireless campaigning eventually propelled her into public office.
“When I started raising my voice about the flood relief I, like my neighbours, felt under-represented,” Peir began. “I felt the Council weren’t really listening to the people that know the land – the fisherman and the people who have lived by the river all their life. There was a really poor public consultation from Wicklow County Council, so we started lobbying.”
Cllr Leonard lives at ‘the pinch’ by the South Quay, an area that will be heavily impacted by the plans.
Under the original plans, compulsory purchase orders (CPO) would’ve facilitated significant changes to the area in the vicinity of the pinch, with the straightening of the bend in the road and the removal of the green recreational space there two of the particularly contentious issues.
“When I first saw the plans my architectural and engineering background kicked in,” said Peir. “I soon realised the potential extent and impact of the project.
“So we lobbied, and when that didn’t work, I spent €154 on paper posters and ran in the local election!
“I was voted in, mostly because I reflected the voice of the community, and they were not happy with the original plans.”
“I wanted to get the best plan for Arklow,” she added. “Thanks to our lobbying, the County Council did more extensive scientific reports and brought in an extra engineer, John Daly, who was instrumental in helping us. Our biggest fears were that we were going to lose access to the river.
“That we’d have to look at ugly concrete walls, lose our green spaces and impact the local wildlife.
“They were basically going to wall up the whole south side of the river, going around the docks, right up the Riverwalk, with two and a half metre walls. “
The Save Maritime Arklow Group lobbied to retain the bend in the river and public access to the river, as well as to increase visibility along the flood walls, as both a safety measure and as an aesthetic choice.
Calls for the use of more glass panelling was met with extreme resistance, with Minister for State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan, saying in 2002 that they were “considerably more expensive to install and maintain”.
To the relief of the Save Maritime Arklow group, and the broader Arklow community, a concession was made for the intermittent glass panelling of flood walls.
“From the bottom of my heart I’d like to thank the local community in Arklow, “Cllr Leonard said.
“Their support and belief in our campaigning group, and me as their local representative, have kept us strong throughout this process. We are indebted to them.
“Hopefully coming generations will remember how the town came together when they are pottering around on their boats and enjoying the river in years to come.”
“I’d like to give a special thanks to Margaret Stokes, Deirdre and Sinéad Burke from the Save Maritime Arklow group.
Landscape artist Sophia Meeres from UCD, who helped and advised us. Arklow architect Daniel Condren and planner Brendan Buck, who put together our submission to an Bord Pleanála.
“The Arklow Chamber of Commerce, local main street businesses and of course, the Arklow community, who funded and supported our work.”
Cllr Leonards’s neighbours and colleagues from the Save Maritime Arklow Group echoed her words, heaping particular praise on the Arklow community. According to Nicola Kenny, “I welcome a decision. It’s been a horrendous six years on the residents.
“From day one we all said: compromise, Arklow needs flood relief. My father was on the harbour board for years, he was a sea captain, he campaigned for a flood relief scheme years ago.”
“The accepted plans, while not ideal, are a vast improvement on the originals. They wanted to remove the bend in the river and put up 4ft concrete walls in front of our homes.
“We thought removing the bend would cause extra flooding, so we’re glad that won’t be happening.
“We realise it’s all about future planning, with climate change and everything.
“Hopefully with the completion of the works, on both the treatment plant and flooding relief, it won’t be an issue any more.
Nicola’s neighbour and Save Maritime Arklow member Christine McElheron was rather diplomatic about the decision, saying “It will be a lot more appealing on the eye than the original plans, at least we have that.
“The biggest relief, thinking back on the whole thing, is the bend in the river was saved and the river was not brought nearer our homes.”
“We still have some recreational space, the walls will be softened, in parts.
“If we started it all again, we’d probably do everything the same!
“Thinking about the whole process, we were lucky that we had like-minded neighbours. From the very beginning we were on the same page.
“That just comes from loving the area, from being a part of Arklow.”
In the past few days state Minsters have been having their say on the decision. Minister Patrick O’Donovan welcomed An Bord Pleanála’s decision to approve the proposed Flood Relief Scheme, saying, “Coming almost one year to the day after I visited Arklow to familiarise myself with the proposed flood relief scheme there, this is very welcome news indeed.
“First and foremost, for the owners of the 637 homes and 141 businesses in the town for whom the scheme will mean protection from the kinds of flooding events we have witnessed here repeatedly in the past twenty years.”
“But also for our partners in Wicklow County Council and the engineering consultants with whom the OPW has been working closely over many years to assess and develop a scheme for the Avoca River which is viable, cost effective and sustainable.
“The estimated €28 million investment by the OPW will protect the town of Arklow against both coastal and river flooding once completed.”
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly also welcomed the decision, saying, “This is a project I have been pushing for a number of years as it is of vital importance for the future of the Arklow.
“In 2018 I invited then Minister for State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran to the town to see for himself what needed to be done and to ensure that the scheme was incorporated into Government policy.
“During the visit we made it clear that the scheme was essential to protect the town against both river and coastal erosion.
“It’s an issue that has been championed on the ground by Cllr Pat Fitzgerald and I’d like to also commend Wicklow County Council for the work they have done in pushing it forward.”
As there is substantial overlap with Irish Water’s work on the Water Treatment Plant, Arklow’s Flood Relief project is expected to commence shortly. Preliminary plans indicate that Arklow Bridge will become a single lane thoroughfare at night, for several months.
