Traders say flood protection money is town’s key priority

Traders say flood protection money is town’s key priority

11 June 2025

BUSINESSWOMAN Ciara Douglas has questioned if the suggested £22.5m investment in flood protection measures is necessary.

She unwittingly became one of the public faces of the devastating 2023 flood which engulfed Downpatrick town centre leaving many shops under four feet of water.

Heartbreaking images of the tearful woman saving Holy Communion dresses from her St Patrick’s Avenue store — which had yet to celebrate its first anniversary —captured the catastrophic impact of the disaster visited upon the town centre after the Quoile river burst its banks.

Her business, Making Memories for You, lost much of its stock due to flood damage and she revealed that reopening left her "substantially" out of pocket .

Her business was allocated around £30,000 from Stormont's support fund, despite initially being told there could be up to £100,000 available.

Ciara believes the risk of future town centre flooding could be substantially reduced if storm drains were regularly cleared and maintained and the Quoile river dredged to remove silt.

"I just can’t see that scheme going ahead," she said.

"There’s a lot of other stuff that needs done around this town so they should concentrate on that and do the work that’s needed on the drains and the river.”

She added that all the various agencies should join forces to ensure the catastrophic flooding of almost 19 months ago never happens again.

Mr Paul McCartan, who was forced to close two family businesses as a result of the flood, is positive about what the future holds.

He admits “you live with a bit of trepidation”, but tries to put it to the back of his mind and remain positive.

Mr McCartan believes the proposed flood alleviation scheme currently on the table will be delivered.

He added: “I’ve been assured the money will be available and is available if they come up with the right plan. I’m confident that we will see these improvements.”

Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group chairman Mal McGrady, said preventative measures have to be put in place to prevent future flooding.

During a briefing with DfI minister Liz Kimmins he made the point that if money is not invested to prevent future flooding, the long-term cost is going to be significantly more than the £22.5m being suggested to implement a range of measures..