Newcastle flood defences: Department to use legal powers to resolve landowner impasse

Severe rain from Storm Francis on Tuesday left some 300 homes in the town flooded, with many streets under four feet of water, and, according to MLA John McGrath, looking like a disaster zone.

However this is a recurring problem, with Newcastle Town Hall and the town’s Presbyterian church opened as shelters for those affected by similar floods in 2008. Major improvements to drainage were promised back then but residents said yesterday that they have seen no change.

Sheila McGinn, whose home flooded this week, said that it is “so terribly disappointing that nothing has been done for 12 years to alleviate the flood problem here in Newcastle.

“It’s a re-enactment of a drama. I am just numb with the shock that it has happened again,” she told Good Morning Ulster.

Resident John McBurney said the flooding was 10-15% worse than in 2008.

“You now have elderly people who, every time it rains, think it’s going to happen again which is perfectly understandable,” he said.

Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon, who only took office in January, visited Newcastle on Tuesday to see the flooding for herself. She said a longer term solution was required than sandbags.

 “That is why I am giving my commitment and assurance that the flood alleviation scheme will be delivered for this area as quickly as possible,” she said. “My officials advise that we hope to have the scheme on the ground by summer 2021 but I am asking for that to be escalated to explore any options to get work brought forward.”

She could not give a clear completion date.

Asked why the flood alleviation scheme promised after the 2008 floods had not yet started, the Department of Infrastructure (DFI) said it had been “prioritised with other similar projects”.

A spokeswoman added: “Scheme progression is dependent on a range of factors including cost benefit analysis, considering the most appropriate design, land agreements and other capital investment needs.”

 The design was completed in 2017, almost ten years after the 2008 floods, with the proposed 1400metres of flood defences due to £6.5m.

Sinn Fein MLA Willia Clarke said yesterday that a key delay is that private landowners have raised concerns about flood defences on their land.

The DFI replied that there has been “some slippage in the programme due to a number of protracted lands agreements. However if we are still unable to resolve the issues and reach agreement, it is our intention to use our powers of entry under the Drainage Order, 1973 and proceed with the scheme.”

Newry Mourne and Down District Council is administering a grant of £1,000 per home for flood damage. For information call 0330 137 4024 or email: [email protected]

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