Laois Nationalist — Flooding causing concern to glamping…

By Joe Barrett

According to a local councillor flooding issues are causing concern to a recently opened glamping site – Making Tracks – in Ballybrophy.

The Cathaoirleach of the Borris-in-Ossory Municipal District Council cllr John King proposed at the recent district meeting that Laois County Council carry out work at Ballybrophy to “stop flooding occurring at the newly developed glamping site that was opened this year.”

The district engineer Edmond Kenny in his reply said that “trial holes are scheduled to be evacuated at the site to identify services which may conflict with the replacement of the existing culvert.”

He said once the results of the trial holes are known, he would update councillors on the matter.

Cathaoirleach King said: “He’s after spending a huge amount of money developing the site and making it a tourist area and is doing very well.  But when heavy rainfall occurs the water is not able to move out of the lower part of the site. I’d ask that the work would be done before next Summer. I’d be terrible to see such money spent and the water not being able to drain out of the site.”

Cllr Conor Bergin said: “I think that it will require a significant amount of work to get it fixed. It’ll probably need a new drain to be installed to ensure the water does not go into the property. The residents along Station Road ask that they be consulted when the works are being done because they’re living in close proximity to the site. I hope it can be fixed to help the business grow there.”