Downpatrick holds its breath as the DfI consultants prepare the final stages of the business case for a flood alleviation scheme
The case for the flood alleviation scheme in Downpatrick was expected to be delivered by April 2026 but it is running behind. Down News has inquired a couple of times and was told it is eventually at is final stages.
The DfI has since announced a flood alleveiation pilot in Newry, and one in Tyrone, and also introduced a new flood warning programme to give local residents and businesses in NI a heads up when and if flooding occurs.
But given the stringent budget issues at the Assembly, it was always going to be a slow process to get a real physical scheme working on the ground in Downpatrick as the capital funding required is very limited.
The NI Assembly breaks for the Thursday 6th May election on Saturday 29th March but the business is probably now is in running-down mode with just over 20 weeks to purdah when MLAs and must not use government resources for their own party political reasons.
And given that there were two years in the past Assembly when there were no legislation passed, and there has been constant bickering of budgets, a Downpatrick flood alleviation scheme may be a long time in the making, which is very concerning for local businesses who are still trying to recover from the last flood in 2023.
South MLA Andrew McMurray who sits on the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, has welcomed news that a business case for the Downpatrick Flood Alleviation Scheme is nearing completion.
The South Down MLA said: “I wrote to the Minister for an update on the Downpatrick Flood Alleviation Scheme and was told that an Outline Business Case is approaching completion and will be passed on to the Department of Finance within the coming weeks for approval.
“While this progress is welcome, it is concerning that the response also stated that progression remains subject to funding, among other considerations.
“Downpatrick has suffered enormously as a result of the flooding in 2023 and the local economy is still recovering. As we enter the autumn, this experience cannot be repeated.
“The scheme’s benefit-cost ratio has been assessed at 3:1, meaning that for every pound spent, three pounds are saved in damage.
“I would urge the Minister to prioritise this vital scheme and progress it with the urgency it deserves.”
