NI Water is failing Annsborough residents says Hazzard.
Sinn Féin’s Chris Hazzard MP has said residents in Annsborough are justifiably “angry” following weeks of flooding and issues with raw sewage.
Speaking after an on-site meeting with localxa0residents affected, the South Down MP said: “Residents in Annsborough are once again feeling angry and dismayed followingxa0persistent issues with raw sewage and flooding in their homes since early Decemberxa0and they are angry with what theyxa0describe as ‘utterly abysmal communication’xa0from NIWater.
“Some of these residents have been left without basic sanitation, forced to travel to family homes nearby to use the bathroom.
“This is unacceptable at any time, but especially so during a public health emergency.xa0xa0
“The issue came to a head last weekend following heavy rainfall when the system simply couldn’t cope and caused flooding in local homes.
“Having called down myself,” said Mr Hazzard, “to helpxa0residents I had no option but to call upon the chief executive of NI Water to get an emergency tanker onsite which took away more than 60,000 litres of waste in less than 24 hours.xa0
Local Slieve Croob Councillor Roisin Howell added: “Wexa0have alsoxa0learnt in recent days that an emergency overflow system that could have helped has been blocked since last year and despite knowing this, NI Water failed to ensure this system could be utilised in Annsborough’s hour of need.xa0
xa0
“These families have been kept in the dark about the need toxa0upgrade the waste water pumping station, all the while having to deal with serious sewage issues within their own homes.xa0xa0
