Carers for a 93-year-old woman in Co Fermanagh are unable to reach her home in Boho during repeated spells of flooding in the area.
Storm Franklin caused significant flooding in the rural area of the county this week, with local residents voicing concern about the impact of flooding in recent months.
Kathleen Johnston, from the Muckenagh area of Boho near the Sillees River, said her mother Mary is in a vulnerable state as carers and emergency services cannot reach her home after heavy rain.
In some of the worst affected areas of Boho, people can often be left in their homes for days on end, while one road was closed for an entire month last year due to heavy rainfall.
Speaking to MyFermanagh, Kathleen said local resident concerns about the issue are not being addressed.
“I have to rely on neighbours to ferry me across at Corr Bridge and mum’s lane to get to her,” Kathleen said.
“The morning and lunchtime carers are unable to access, therefore there is a risk that mum is alone for hours.
“Resilience within Boho has worn out. We are at the mercy of the weather and the officials responsible for action to alleviate our plight are not listening.”
Kathleen added the persistent flooding has become worse in recent years, with residents being cut off from their homes on at least four occasions in the last year.
She said: “My children couldn’t get to school, I was cut off from my mother’s home and had to rely on neighbours for transport to my car which I parked over two miles from home, and this has affected my ability to get to work.
“Boho is totally disregarded where flood action is necessary.
“We have seen the Rivers Agency debate with Roads Service about who is responsible and yet no solution has been agreed upon.”
Another local resident says a significant amount of excess flood water could be alleviated at Fawcett’s Bridge, which he believes could provide a solution to the severity of flooding in the area.
Mark Fawcett says replacing the current bridge would allow excess water to flow out of the Boho area
“It would definitely alleviate the flooding in Boho, the floods wouldn’t stay that length of time and it would be a massive help to the issue.
“I’m not saying it would sort the problem out but it would be a massive help. It’s an easy fix for the situation.
“The water backed up here at the bridge is unbelievable, and the Rivers Agency have just washed their hands of the situation.”
A statement from the Department for Infrastructure said routine maintenance work on the Sillees River is to be completed next month, but added a review carried out in 2009 'unfortunately found that none of the suggested changes in the management of Lough Erne would lead to any significant reduction of peak levels in most floods.'
“The review also found that it would not be environmentally or economically feasible to increase the capacity of the Erne System to a level where flooding from extreme events, could be prevented," the DfI spokesperson added.
The statement added that increasing the maintenance schedule 'would have no significant impact on flood prevention.'
"In addition, the Department has established a community resilience group in the Boho area, to assist residents.
"Officials have also developed strong links with other response organisations and the voluntary sector, to provide co-ordinated multi agency support to individual properties or communities that may be cut off by flood water and require access to essential services.”
