Assembly Infrastructure Committee meets in St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick
The NI Assemblt Infrastructure Committee met in the St Patrick Centre on Wednesday 18th Marcht listen to local testimonies over the flood in Downpatrick in early November 2023.
• McMurray welcomes flood bill evidence from residents and businesses.
South Down Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray has welcomed evidence provided by two South Down resident and business groups during an Infrastructure Committee session at the St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick.
The evidence session was scheduled to inform the Committee’s scrutiny of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill, which is currently making its way through the Assembly.
Mr McMurray said: “It was good to have representatives from Newcastle Concerned Residents Group and Downpatrick Regeneration Group in attendance to present to the Infrastructure Committee.
“They were able to make their points on the proposed legislation, as well as their ongoing concern in relation to the unresolved issue of flooding in both towns.
“The trauma of seeing their homes and business premises flooded was well articulated by those who had first hand experience of it.
“Unresolved issues remain in both towns. Downpatrick lives in fear of another event with no alleviation measures yet progressed.
“Newcastle residents remain concerned at a lack of progress on a permanent solution, with minor flooding events still occurring in the town.
“The Committee noted the issues raised in relation to the proposed legislation and will take them into account in preparing its response.
“It was also agreed that the Committee would collate the wider concerns raised by residents and business representatives and write to the Minister for Infrastructure on their behalf.
“While the proposed legislation is to be welcomed, its remit is very limited.
“There are still many flood-related issues to be addressed by the Department and its arms-length bodies that are not covered by this bill and it is imperative that solutions are developed on these issues without delay.”
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The Department of Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is expected to announce in April what flood alleviation plans are to be put in place to address the flooding in Downpatrick.
The 64,000 dollar question is: can the Assembly progress the business through the Executive before the election to get flood alleviation in place by 2027 when a new programme of government will need to be set ?
If not, it could end up like the Ballynahinch by-pass, much needed and much kicked down the road in the list of government priorities.
