Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
# Protest
Cork residents halt meter installation as stand-off with Irish Water continues
Local Councillor Frank O’Flynn said Irish Water should be installing new pipes not water meters.
A STAND-OFF between residents in Ashbrook Estate in Togher, County Cork and Irish Water is continuing today as locals refuse to allow Irish Water workers install water meters.
Gardaí attended the scene yesterday, when Campaign Against Home and and Water Taxes held a demonstration, halting works taking place.
This morning, Irish Water has returned to the estate to attempt to carry out their work today.
However, the protest is set to continue, with gardaí arriving at the estate this morning also.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, the chairman of the county council’s northern division, Fianna Fáil’s Frank O’Flynn said that Irish Water should be installing new pipes rather than new meters as there has been a serious problem with the water supply in the Kildorrery area.
“We were told that we would get funding last year to upgrade the water supply by Minister Phil Hogan but Irish Water have yet to release the funds,” said O’Flynn, who said businesses, residents and farmers are facing into another summer of uncertainty when it comes to their water supply.
He added that there has been water outages in the area recently and all the residents are looking for is a guarantee of “good quality water supply”.
Gardaí told the residents they did not have the right to block the work, however, speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke radio programme, one protester John Lonnergan said they would continue their protest, stating that there was eight protesters there at present and over twenty residents.
Read: Homeowners to foot the bill for water used during construction works>
Read: Almost 80,000 homes have so far been fitted with water meters>
