Colin McGrath MLA says that recent Newcastle flooding leaves unanswered questions
South Down MLA Colin McGrath and Mournes SDLP Councillor Laura Devlin have spoken out after a further spell of heavy rain flooded drains in Marguerite Avenue area of Newcastle saying that questions must be answered over what contributed to the recent flooding.
The SDLP Assembly Member said: “The flooding of August 2020 is still in recent memory, and residents in Newcastle were hit again only recently.
“However, while still recovering from the devastating Halloween Floods, more heavy rain fell last week and in the aftermath of this rain the drains and road gullies within Marguerite again appeared not to be working.
“We had received multiple reports of the puddles getting bigger, and water simply not draining away through the drains. Even after the rain had ceased several drains were gurgling. This is not normal and requires urgent attention.”
Mournes Councillor Laura Devlin said: “Over the past 3 weeks I have been in continual contact with residents especially here in Marguerite and other areas in Newcastle.
“There are several examples where flood water entered peoples’ homes, and they have now had to move out, as well as long standing residents whose homes just escaped the impact of the water through their homes.
“We know how devastating floods can be, but equally so people cannot live with the permanent worry of it happening again.
“I understand that there will be a wider post-flood analysis here in Newcastle and rightly so, however, I have raised some very specific questions in respect of Marguerite Avenue.
“These questions have been sent to NI Water and DFI Roads with a request for a full assessment of the public drainage system in this area.”
