Ducks and moorhens return to the Ramparts River in Dundalk following maintenance work

Cllr Ciarán Fisher has welcomed recent maintenance work at the Ramparts River in Dundalk, but has said that action needs to be taken, or “ it will clog up again”.

The Independent councillor said that “it's great to see ducks and moorhens returning to the Ramparts on the back of some much needed maintenace work. Nature is healing!

“The cutting back of vegetation and removal of sediment and rubbish was much needed.”

Cllr Fisher continued, “however, it will clog up again unless a regular maintenance plan is put in place or unless the recommendation from the TidyTown supported survey to improve the water flow are finally enacted.”

He explained, “the Rampart River has a low gradient and a wide channel that results in a build up of sediment, which leads to vegetation growing that chokes up the channel.

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“An engineering survey conducted in 2022 proposed narrowing the channel in places using berms to improve the river flow at a cost at the time estimated to be around €250,000.”

Cllr Fisher added that, “The Ramparts should be an asset running through our town, not an eyesore and I am fully behind unlocking its potential.”