Maintenance of river channel through Athy is ‘difficult’

“THE gold standard of reports, let all the other executives take note for this council term!” That was the reaction by cllr Mark Leigh to a very in-depth response to one of his queries at July’s Athy Municipal District (MD) meeting. He had asked the council to outline what’s required to relinquish control of the section of the River Barrow managed by the council in Athy into the control of Waterways Ireland. The Labour councillor was informed that the Barrow in Athy was a drainage district (established by the Barrow Drainage Act 1927). Since the abolition of drainage districts in 2014, maintenance is managed directly by the council, through the drainage maintenance team.

‘There has been some confusion about the responsibilities for the Barrow and the lands adjacent to the river. Waterways Ireland have responsibility for the Barrow Navigation channel (i.e. the canal), which merges with the Barrow at the Horse Bridge (which is downstream of the town centre). It splits again just downstream of the new distributor road bridge and then merges at Ardreigh Lock. So, there is only a small stretch of the Barrow in which both Waterways and the council are jointly responsible for maintenance,’ the report explained. ‘Maintenance of the river channel through Athy is difficult, as the river is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and requires additional environmental assessment. Its width and the lack of bank space for machines within the town centre have meant that the middle of the channel is unreachable. The drainage maintenance team is trialling a weed cutting boat on the Barrow this summer which will hopefully allow us to carry out maintenance on the centre of the channel.

‘Any changes to the maintenance regime or responsibility for maintenance of the Barrow in Athy may impact on the Athy Flood Relief Scheme, which is currently at preliminary design stage.’ The report went on to note that, following discussions with Waterways Ireland, a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties could be progressed outlining their responsibilities and roles.

‘They advised that their role to date is on an ad hoc basis, carrying out reed cutting etc., when requested and that they currently have no control over unauthorised boats on that section of the River Barrow.’ 

Cllr Leigh said a memorandum of understanding needs to be drawn up as soon as possible.