Updated 22.48
IRISH WATER CONTRACTORS have been removing some metering equipment from the pavement in the Ashbrook Heights area of Cork, where protests have been taking place since last month.
Local campaigners said Irish Water contractors had agreed to remove the equipment, which had only been partially installed, and had told residents they would not return to the area for the foreseeable future.
TV3 reporter Paul Byrne tweeted these photos of work being carried out on the pavement.
[By permission]
Irish Water also confirmed that work had been taking place in the area this morning. A spokesperson said that some metering equipment was removed in the course of that work, which was being undertaken to improve temporary pavement repairs carried out in the estate following the initial protests.
The spokesperson said that while he didn’t have details on any longer-term deal between contractors and locals, it was possible workers had agreed to halt work in the area on the basis of health and safety.
Irish Water later sent this statement, detailing the nature of the equipment being removed…
In the Ashbrook Estate in Cork, Irish Water is today performing permanent reinstatement works to pathways and surrounding areas, as planned.There are six boundary installations impacted.Five meters in new boundary boxes have been removed temporarily for inspection and will be re-installed in due course as part of the completion of works in the estate.No meter (boundary) boxes have been removed.Residents were informed that Irish Water was doing this.
Protester John O’Donovan, who was hospitalised in the course of an incident at the estate two weeks ago, described this morning’s events as “a win for the campaign and its a win for the residents”.
He said that the metering equipment only been partially installed, and later covered up by workers after protesters prevented them from finishing the job.
“We wouldn’t allow them to finish, so they put backfill in to make them secure,” O’Donovan said.
They have remained like that until this morning.
O’Donovan said the contractors had agreed to leave the estate for the time-being, adding that he expected them to return at some stage in the future.
“This is a loss for Government and a win for the people of Ireland,” O’Donovan said.
Irish Water said they would get back in touch with more details on the situation, once they became available.
First posted at 11.15am.
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