A Co Clare businessman says he has been forced to close his guesthouse and restaurant until at least Christmas while works to repair storm damage caused two years ago resume.
The second phase of the reconstruction of the 19th century seawall at Kilkee has commenced and is expected be completed before the start of the 2016 summer season.
Kilkee business man Johnny Redmond claims his 2014 season was a washout because of the damage caused by the storms of 2013 and 2014.
The road at Strand Line has collapsed several feet in one area while cracks slowly crept along the roadway for a further 100 metres forcing Clare County Council to close the route completely.
Investigation works took several weeks while the complexity of the remediation work also delayed progress completing the project.
Mr Redmond said: “This damage was caused two years ago and works are still not completed. My 2014 season was a complete wash-out because the road outside by business was completely closed. I had to fight to get signs just to say my business was still open.”
“Whatever about the road being closed off the last time, the road is now completely closed and all you can see is six foot fences covered in green mesh. You can see nothing from the café windows and you can’t see my building when you’re driving down the Stand Line. Passing trade is very important to my business,” Mr Redmond added.
“There’s no point me being open with a full building site outside my front door. I would have hoped that this work would have been completed last year but I appreciate there were issues and the council couldn’t work through the summer.
All I want is to see this work done and dusted as quickly as possible. There’s no access for cars so people have to walk down a little path with no lighting. I’ve asked for lighting so I hope I get that much at least because I want to be able to open for Christmas which is a busy time,” he added.
“They say the work will be finished for next season. It should have been all done for last season so I hope they won’t let me down again,” Mr Redmond said.
Meanwhile, Clare County Council has confirmed that other storm remedial works will begin this week at a number of other locations in Clare.
A contract has also been signed for some projects while others are at the planning stage and Coastal Erosion and Flood Risk Management Study for another has been sent to the Department of the Environment for its consideration.
Funding has recently been received from the OPW for the repair of embankments along the Shannon Estuary and other coastal protection works along Clare’s Atlantic coast.
Director of Services with Clare County Council Anne Haugh said: “The unprecedented damage that was inflicted on the county and particularly the coastline during the storms of late 2013 and early 2014 presented a very significant challenge for Clare County Council to address in addition to its normal work programmes over the past couple of years.”
“The efforts of all involved are acknowledged in attaining this level of progress to date as the completion of the programme continues to be a key priority for the Council in the year ahead,” Ms Haugh added.