A controversial flood relief plan for Cork has caused an angry exchange of views at a public meeting held in Cork City Hall tonight.

The Office of Public Works is spending 140 million on the proposal which involves enclosing the central island in Cork city and the surrounding quays in concrete walls.

The Save Cork City group say the measures will result in the destruction of the longest stretch of Georgian quay walls in Europe and may increase the risk of flooding during its ten-year construction period.

Campaigners are calling for a full design review, favouring a more sustainable approach to tackling flooding at source by slowing the flow in upland areas before it reaches built-up zones.

However the OPW is insisting that it won't back down from the plan to build direct flood defences in the form of concrete walls.

Polly Magee from Save Cork City said that the measures will increase the risk of flooding during the construction period: 

She also says the current plan does not take account of rising sea levels - nor does it factor in the loss to business during the construction process: