Heavy rainfall over a prolonged period brings the risk of flooding in Downpatrick, but don’t panic just yet
Dunleath Park is badly flooded as the Quoile waters back up following storms and heavy rain. However, residents at the Hunters Mill estate are very concerned about what could happen over the next few days if the water continues to rise.
Liam Quinn, Chair of the Hunters Mill Community Association has been watching as the water encroaches the estate.
“Residents in Russell Park, Cathedral View and Hunters Mill are affected by this constant flooding.
He said: “On Wednesday morning from 4.30am there was a marked increase in the water levels in Dunleath Park showing that the flood water was NOT draining away.
“The ground is just saturated and it will take some time for the Council playing pitches to be operational again.
“This is all pretty much a health and safety scenario. At its deepest, the water is around eight feet deep in Dunleath Park. It would just take a child to slip off a makeshift raft without a lifebelt to drown. This is a clear danger to anyone who falls into the water.
“And last time it flloded in early Novermebr 2023, a big sewer pipe at the edge of the estate overflowed contaminating the area. Pressure from within the sewer forced its contents up. It was appalling.
“And to add to all of this, with the floods comes the risk of vermin coming into local homes. At this time of year rats and mice do tend to seek shelter in warm places. This has happned before and it is all just a perfect storm.
“I hate to be scare-mongering but the River Quoile is absolutely full of water and it does not seem to be draining away very quickly.”
Liam explained that a few homes were affected by the 2023 flood, included the home of a disabled pensioner.
“If you look at the BBC weather forecasts for the next week, it is giving high winds and continuous rain. People in Hunters Mill are living on their nerves again. And there’s not even a sandbag in sight yet which would be re-assuring.
“It will be a nail-biting few days but hopefully that will be the end of it for this year.
“The Department of Infrastructure is set to release its plans for flood alleviation on the Quoile in April. Let’s hope this all moves ahead quickly and the Assembly approve the money needed to complete the job. And let’s hope this doesn’t turn into another Ballynahinch by-pass scenario and get kicked up the road.
