Issue no. 7 | Winter / Spring 2016
Our Town Our River www.bray.ie
Latest News about the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme Hello and welcome to the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme Newsletter for Winter/Spring 2016. This newsletter is to provide a brief outline of the progress made to date and to detail the ongoing works on the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme. Public Information Evening We would like to thank everybody who attended the Public Information Evening in December. It was very well attended and provided a good opportunity to meet people, explain the upcoming works and to address any queries and concerns raised. Damage arising from Storm conditions in December 2015 Late December saw significant flooding around the country with Storm Desmond. The flood defence structures put in place along the River Dargle to date contained the water within the channel. There was a minor breach to the portion of the old existing river wall (c.15m) at the Upper Dargle Road adjacent to the Bridge and scouring to the riverbed. This was in an area where flood defence works remain to be carried out. Following discussions with Inland Fisheries Ireland, Wicklow County Council applied to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for a derogation licence to facilitate emergency remedial works to repair and prevent further scouring at the base of the wall. These remedial works were completed on 26th January. The flood defence works in this area (Lower Dargle Road/Bray Bridge), including the construction of the boardwalk linking into People’s Park, are due to commence in May 2016.
Flood Remediation Works at Bray Bridge.
2 Newsletter Issue no. 7 | Winter / Spring 2016
Upcoming Works Landscape Works at Seapoint Court
Glenwood/People’s Park
The Civil Engineering Works in this area are complete. Regrading of the embankment has been completed and flood defence structures are in place. This means that residents of Seapoint Court are protected from a 1 in 100 year fluvial event and 1 in 200 year tidal event.
Works are ongoing on the construction of the twin siphon. The proposed defence works required the felling of a number of trees along the riverbank at Glenwood and between Glenwood and Killarney Glen. It was also necessary to divert ESB and gas mains at this location. It is anticipated that works to the Siphon will be completed by April 2016. The remaining works to the river bank and lowering of the river bed will take place this season.
Footpaths and lighting have been put in place and further landscaping will take place between January and March (in line with the planting season). This will mean that there will be another attractive, well lit walkway between Seapoint Court and Bray Bridge.
We would like to thank the residents adjacent to these works (including the residents in Glenburgh Terrace) for their ongoing support and patience during construction.
Ravenswell Road Rehills Land/The Slang The flood defence works in this area are almost complete. We are currently progressing with the landscaping design. Tim Austen & Associates (Landscape Designers) have been appointed to undertake the detailed landscape design. Works adjacent to the Railway Bridge are due to commence after Christmas (Early 2016). Flood defence works in this area are due to commence in March 2016 and be complete by end of September This will create a public amenity area which, once completed, will link the Harbour area to Bray Bridge. Maltings The construction of the sheetpile flood defence wall at the Maltings has been completed. Reinstatement works within the Maltings development were undertaken following the diversion and repositioning of the gas line. Landscaping will be undertaken in the coming weeks when the weather conditions improve. Killarney Glen
The River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme requires the lowering and deepening of the river bed. The EIS estimated that this would result in the requirement to dispose/reuse c.160,000 cubic meters (approximately equal to 300,000 tonnes). The EIS noted that approximately 50% of material would be suitable for re-use on Rehills Lands (and noted that there may be an opportunity to reuse additional material in embankments throughout the site). This will increase the level of Rehills Lands by approximately 2m above the original scheme level. It is anticipated that the process of remodelling Rehills Land/the Slang will start in Autumn this year with the Scheme being substantially completed late 2016. Landscaping will commence on completion of the works (November 2016-March 2017) in line with the planting season. There may be a requirement to remove a significant portion of inert riverbed material off site to licenced facilities. Wicklow County Council and TKFM Management have been engaging with licencsed facilities for some time to determine their requirements. Wicklow County Council are also looking at all opportunities to reuse the material in other approved projects.
Works are completed at Killarney Glen with the exception of the steps and landscaping. Works will be completed in this area within the next month. The County Brook WCC have appointed JBA Consulting to assess the wider catchment of the County Brook (from the Scalp in Enniskerry to its confluence at the River Dargle) and to propose appropriate and cost effective measures to address the ongoing issue with silt, debris and runoff from this stream. WCC anticipate that the Consultant’s report will be completed over the coming months with remedial works commencing in May 2016. As an interim measure, Wicklow County Council has undertaken some emergency remedial works along the County Brook channel in recent weeks to mitigate against flooding in this area pending the final design.
Works at Killarney Glen.
3 Newsletter Issue no. 7 | Winter / Spring 2016
Works In Picture Below are images showing the works that are currently in progress:
Looking East on Bray Bridge.
View from the Bray Bridge of Ravenswell Road.
View of the new walkway at Seapoint Court.
Works at The Maltings.
Have you watched our latest video update?
You can use a QR code scanner on your smartphone or tablet to access our video update. Just scan the code on the righthand side of this page or you can watch it on our dedicated page on www.bray.ie.
Scan me
Works proposed for 2016 WCC have tendered for a works contractor to undertake the works remaining on Lower Dargle Road and Ravenswell Road. Tenders were received in February and we anticipate that the Contractor be appointed to commence works in March 2016. Other packages to be tendered include: • • •
Construction of the debris traps Lowering of the river bed Reinstatement works including Hard and soft landscaping works
Environmental Monitoring Committee The Environmental Monitoring Committee comprising representatives from the Office of Public Works, Inland Fisheries Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Local Angling interest, Community Representatives and Wicklow County Council meet every 6-8 weeks. Following the meeting, a memo will be prepared detailing the items raised and the actions to be taken. This memo will be posted on the Bray Town Council website www.braytowncouncil.ie The objectives of the Committee are to: • • • •
Ensure co-ordination of environmental mitigation measures To monitor compliance with the mitigation measures set out in the EIS and liaise with appropriate authorities Make observations/recommendations to the appropriate authorities via the Town Clerk (now District Administrator) Facilitate liaison and communication between stakeholders represented in the committee
If you have any concerns that you would like addressed, please do not hesitate in contacting Amy O’Farrell by email: aofarrell@wicklowcoco.ie or by phone 01 2744900 or alternatively you may contact Cllr Steven Matthews by email at stephensgreenbray@gmail.com
Contact us If you have a question about the scheme here’s how to get in contact with us.......
You can send us an email to braymd@wicklowcoco.ie or post a question on Bray.ie’s Twitter or Facebook pages. Just simply include the hashtag #OurTownOurRiver in your question.
After
We also have a dedicated page on www.bray.ie, which is updated regularly with the scheme’s latest news, answering your questions and displaying scheme photographs.
Keep up to date Why not follow us on Twitter @bray_ie, like us on Facebook or log onto www.bray.ie for the very latest news! t: @bray_ie e: braymd@wicklowcoco.ie w: www.bray.ie
Municipal District of Bray © 2016