Irish Water halts work as families drive meter installers from estate

IRISH Water contractors were driven out of a housing estate by a group of more than 100 parents and children protesting against the installation of water meters.

Irish Water said it was forced to stop works in the Ashbrook Heights in the Lehenaghmore area of Togher in Cork yesterday morning for health and safety reasons. However, it said the work to install the meters would continue.

Protesters claim they were not informed the meters would be installed and have promised to disrupt future efforts to install meters in the estate.

If contractors are unable to finish installing the meters, residents could end up having to pay more for their water usage through assessed charges.

Gardai were also called to the scene after a number of families, including mothers and children, surrounded the work areas and refused to allow the work to continue.

One protester, John O'Donovan of the Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes, said the peaceful demonstration was an example of how "people power can triumph". He said: "We stood and blocked them while they were digging. They have no consent from any of the householders to do this.

"Basically what they are doing is pushing contracts on people and it is a one-sided contract. They have no permission given by anyone . . . to be putting meters outside people's homes. They are pushing this on us without even asking for permission to do so."

The Irish Water contractors eventually filled in the holes and left the estate.

The workers left the area to the cheers of local residents.

Keith O'Brien, form the Ballyphehane and South Parish Says No campaign group, said it wanted residents to boycott the charges and would push for a referendum on water charges.

PROTEST

A spokeswoman for Irish Water last night told the Irish Independent the agency was aware of a small protest at Ashbrook Heights yesterday morning.

"Contractors at the site today halted metering work for a short period of time in order to maintain the safety of the staff, the public and the site of work," she said.

Source-Irish News