A £2.6 million improvement scheme to the Downpatrick sewage system is about to begin later this week.
Councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe said that the planned works will improve the water quality in local watercourses, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
He said: “The Hunters Mill Water Storage Tank scheme, which represents an investment of just over £1 million by NI Water is to be welcomed. It will generally improve the quality of local water flow and importantly will reduce the risk of out of sewer flooding in the area which has been a persistent problem for a number of years now. “Recently my colleagues and I have had a number of meetings with both NI Water and the scheme contractors to urge that the work is carried out promptly and in a way that will have little impact on local people, business and traffic flow in the town. “I am delighted that this scheme is finally getting under way. The project will see not only the construction of a new storm water storage tank in the existing open ground near Thomas Russell Park, but the laying of new sewers in the open ground between Hunters Mill and Thomas Russell Park, the provision of a new screened overflow and general sewer upgrades in Stream Street area of town. “The sewer upgrade work in Stream Street will require traffic controls with lane restrictions needed to allow the works to be completed in a safe environment, so we urge local people to be patient over the coming weeks as delays are inevitable. During construction a temporary construction road will be in place from the Ballydugan Road via the playing fields in order to minimise the impact to the residents of Thomas Russell Park. “The aim is to minimise vehicular and pedestrian traffic disruption as much as possible, and this is a must to ensure that our business community to do suffer in the run up to their busiest time of the year, Christmas,” added Councilor Mac Con Midhe. And Downpatrick Sinn Féin election candidate Naomi Bailie said water infrastructure in Downpatrick is in need of major investment and both the Hunter Mill and Market Street projects were the first steps in the process towards bringing the towns capacity up to standard. She added: “It is important that local people recognise the significance of these planned works. They are the first steps towards the modernisation of Downpatricks sewerage infrastructure. Whilst disruption is likely we would ask that local people be appreciative of the need for this work to be completed and mindful of the consequences it will have for the wider Downpatrick area. [caption id="attachment_43760" align="aligncenter" width="540"]