ARKLOW FLOOD RELIEF SCHEME 

Overview - 

Wicklow County Council (WCC), funded by the Office of Public Works (OPW), proposes to undertake engineering works along the Avoca River and surrounds to mitigate the risk of flooding in the Arklow town area in County Wicklow. The proposed works are collectively referred to as the Arklow Flood Relief Scheme.

The proposed development (proposed scheme) will be carried out partly on the foreshore by a local authority, Wicklow County Council. Wicklow County Council has made an application for approval to An Bord Pleanála pursuant to Section 226 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended). Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) documentation has also been prepared.

Arklow town has, for many years, experienced recurring flooding problems that have caused widespread damage to public and private property (August 1986, December 1989, November 2000, February 2002, October 2004, October 2005, January 2010, January 2013 and December 2015). The flood risk in Arklow may also increase in the future, due to a range of factors, including climate change, sediment transport, erosion, development within the catchment of Avoca River and its tributaries, and changes in land use and drainage. Arklow is at risk from potentially worsening flood events having regard to current climate change predictions. Without intervention to address fluvial and tidal flooding, Arklow faces the continued onset of a range of issues associated with flooding. Thus, there are a number of justifications surrounding the need for the proposed scheme.

A copy of application for approval, the EIAR and the NIS may be inspected free of charge, or may be purchased on payment of a specified fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such a copy) during public opening hours for a period of no less than 6 weeks from 4^th June 2021 to 23^rd July 2021 (inclusive of both dates), at the following locations:

The application plans and particulars, the EIAR and the NIS may also be viewed or downloaded from the following website: https://www.wicklow.ie/Living/Your-Council/Municipal-Districts/Arklow/AFRS.

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government EIA portal: 

 http://housinggovie.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d7d5a3d48f104ecbb206e7e5f84b71f1

Submissions or observations may be made in writing only to An Bord Pleanála (‘the Board’) 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 in respect of:

1. The implications of the proposed development for proper planning and sustainable development,
2. The likely effects on the environment of the proposed development, and
3. The likely significant effects of the proposed development on a European site, if carried out.

Any submissions / observations must be accompanied by a fee of €50 (except for certain prescribed bodies) and must be received in writing by the Board not later than 5.30 p.m. on 23^rd July 2021. Such submissions or observations must include the following information:

1. The name of the person, authority or body making the submission or observation, the name of the person, if any, acting on behalf of that person, authority or body, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent,
2. The subject matter of the submission or observation, and
3. The reasons, considerations and arguments on which the submission or observation is based in full.

 An Bord Pleanála may approve, approve subject to conditions, or refuse the proposed development.

Any person may question the validity of any such decision of the Board made in respect of the application for permission by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the Rule of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 15 of 1986, as amended by S.I. No. 691 of 2011), in accordance with Section 175(4)(a) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 as amended. Practical information on the review mechanism can be accessed under the heading Publications – Judicial Review Notice on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie or on the Citizens Information Service website www.citizensinformation.ie.

Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to An Bord Pleanála (Telephone: 01 8588100).