Plans lodged and compulsory purchase sought for flood relief scheme in Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Council have made an application to An Bord Pleanála to carry out proposed works in the townlands of Ballyhale and Kiltorcan in County Kilkenny.

A concurrent compulsory purchase order for the scheme has also been submitted to An Bord Pleanála for approval.

The intent of the works is to enhance the flow capacity and level of defence and to alleviate the risk of flooding to the community of Ballyhale.

The proposed scheme involves:

1. Embankments located upstream of the village to prevent overland
2. Flood wall to western perimeter of “Arrigle View”
3. A section of new river channel re-connecting all outlets from the Chapel Lane bridge into the western river channel and removing the flow. This will require excavation of the existing church pedestrian access and replacement via a new pedestrian connection which also serves to form a new bank to the redirected stream
4. Landscaping of eastern river channel to allow for a low flow channel to reflect reduced flow
5. Flood defences (wall and embankments) between the western channel and the properties at risk on Main Street. Lands acquired for these flood defences will be landscaped to provide a riverside walkway/park
6. Removal of one of two existing minor private bridges providing access across the river to a private land parcel. Access to the parcel will be maintained by retrofitting the second bridge to flood defence level
7. Removal of a boundary wall spanning the watercourse
8. Removal of the existing weir and bridge at the Ballyhale Business Park access and replacement of bridge with clear span access with regrading of channel to improve channel capacity
9. Low flood wall alongside the road opposite Brookfield to prevent out of bank flows emerging onto the road surface.
10. Provision of rock ramp to existing weir at Ballyhale Shamrocks access to improve fish pass conditions
11. Channel reprofiling at the existing Main Street bridge to improve bridge inlet
12. Provision of additional conveyance capacity to the Main street Bridge. The additional conveyance will be provided by an additional bridge opening (box culvert) set at high level to provide capacity for extreme flood events.
13. Provision of rock ramp to downstream face of the Main Street Bridge to improve fish pass conditions
14. Provision of a temporary construction
15. Fencing, accommodation works and all site development and landscaping

The measures for the area – which will protect 25 properties when completed - are part of Flood Risk Management Plans for Kilkenny under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment Management (CFRAM) Programme.