BUSINESS people on Ardee's Hale Street are up in arms over what they describe as on-going flooding in their area.
They are angry that after a n1 million works programme that took a year to complete, they are still suffering floods.
On Friday ev
ening, a burst pipe at the Monastery School caused the water to flow down from the Drogheda Road into Hale Street and cause flooding.
Annie Haughey, owner of Annie's Newsagent, said the two gullies on the street couldn't cope with water coming down the Drogheda road.
“Nobody could get into the shop,” she said. “And no one from the council came to see us. Nobody came to tell us what was happening.”
“An 80-year-old woman came into the shop and the water was coming out of her shoes.
“n1 million went out of Ardee last year in rates. The lack of services is appaling.”
“They were 18 months working on the road heret. From October 2007 to December 2008. The Gorey by-pass was finished quicker.
Emma McKenna, owner of Emma's Hairdressers, said the flood appeared on the street at 4.30 on Friday evening.
“It was just when people were starting to finish up at work and we were getting busy,” said Emma.
“The water came round the corner and the gullies just couldn't take the flow. All the work carried out a few years ago has done nothing to alleviate this kind of thing.
“Every time there is heavy rain we get trouble like this. When they were working on the road we asked them to look at the drains, but a fortnight after they finished, it flooded.
“We had to call the fire brigade several times,” she said.
Cllr Dolores Minogue said she will be raising the matter with the engineering officials of Ardee Town Council.
“We need to sort out this problem,” Cllr Minogue said, “I know Ardee Town Council staff will be willing to meet the business people on Hale Stree and try and sort it out.
“These people are trying to keep their businesses going in difficult times so it is important that the problem is investigated.”
A spokesman for Ardee Town Council said there was a burst pipe on Friday evening and when the water was turned off, the flood disappeared.
“No gully could take that amount of water,” he said. “But there are enough gullies on this street to deal with normal flows.
“We have been called out a number of times, only to find a car parked over a gully or leaves blocking them.
“But if people think there is an ongoing problem we have no difficulty meeting them. They are very welcome to come and discuss any problems.”
