Residents object to road flooding

Residents object to road flooding

14 November 2018

WORK to alleviate road flooding in Drumaroad is to completed by next March.

South Down MP Chris Hazzard has confirmed that the Department of Infrastructure is to undertake a flood alleviation scheme at Carnreagh Road during the current financial year at cost of £250,000.

It follows on from weekend reports that a woman needed help when her car was flooded on the road near Castlewellan and emergency services had to be rerouted for miles as they tried to attend a collision.

The Carnreagh Road has been prone to severe flooding for years over the autumn and winter and is often closed as a result.

A demonstration by local residents was held on the road on Monday afternoon and attended by Mr Hazzard as well as Sinn Féin party members Emma Rogan MLA and local councillor John Rice.

Mr Hazzard said that only two obstacles remained for the work being completed — landowner consent and low water levels to suit construction.

He said: “DFI Roads have confirmed to me that design work is now complete and they have begun to liaise with local landowners regarding legal approval for implementing a large scale anti-flood project on lands adjacent to the Carnreagh Road.

“They also confirmed that this project is likely to cost in the region of £250,000 and that they have now agreed to reprioritise other projects so as this scheme can be completed in this financial year.”

Cllr Rice said that as Carnreagh Road was the main line between Dundrum and Dromara, any closure had a “hugely negative impact”.

He added: “The local community have been incredibly patient in recent months. However, the local community can’t afford to wait any longer. We need a solution to this problem, and we need it now.”

The news has also been welcomed by SDLP MLA Colin McGrath.

He said: “This has been an ongoing issue for many years but one that has deteriorated significantly after each period of recent heavy rain.”

His party colleague, Cllr Mark Murnin, said he had lobbied for major drainage work for years on the Carnreagh Road. 

He said Carnreagh Road residents will “simply no longer accept this continued upset to their day to day lives”.