FAMILIES and business owners in Raphoe are living in misery after flash flooding left a huge crater on their road which they say is obstructing their lives.
Residents of the Tops are being forced to take alternative routes in and out of their homes while farmers are enduring a 10km round trip to get silage because of the crater, estimated to be 15ft deep on one side of the road.
The section of the road, close to Tops Farm, was completely washed away during last month’s flash flooding in Raphoe, leaving the crater in its wake.
Resident Seamus Lafferty told of how his life has been “turned upside down” since the road has become completely inaccessible.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Mr Lafferty said that despite living a very short distance from the town, he is forced to make a 7km re-route to get a carton of milk.
“The floods have destroyed the road outside my house. It has completely washed away. I’d say the road is about 10ft wide and there is a crater of about 15ft deep on it,” he said.
“It’s a joke. It’s about half a mile from my home to Raphoe but I have to go 7km on another route just to get a carton of milk.
There are a number of other houses on the road as well as numerous businesses and farms. The situation is badly affecting us all. People use this road to get to Raphoe. Farmers use it too, but now they are being forced to make a 10km round trip to get silage.
“There’s a car alternator business on the road too and customers have to come in a completely different way to access it. It’s affecting families and businesses to no end.”
Mr Lafferty said he fears the situation could cause an accident. He has contacted Donegal County Council about the issue.
“I was on to the council 10 days ago and the engineer was to come back but hasn’t as of yet. Something needs done about it because residents and businesses are suffering.”
Cllr Frank McBrearty Jnr called on Donegal County Council to put together a co-ordinated emergency plan in conjunction with the community and businesses of Raphoe town in the wake of the severe flooding in July.
He demanded that proper levels of funding to address the damage caused by the flash flooding be put in place and that flood prevention measures are implemented without delay.
Speaking at the time, he said: “Over the last 25 years there has been multiple properties built in the town similar to other towns but there has been no upgrading of sewage or storm drainage within the town itself and this has played a big factor in the continuation of the flooding problems.” We contacted Donegal County Council for a response. It had not been received at the time of going to press.
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