Anger over plans to dig up streets

Anger over plans to dig up streets

14 December 2011

HARD-pressed business owners in Downpatrick are furious they face major traffic disruption next year.

Northern Ireland Water has confirmed that it is planning to start work on two major sewerage schemes in Church Street and Market Street which will lead to traffic restrictions in both locations. Both projects are expected to take 18 months to complete.

In Church Street, work on a £2m scheme starts early next month, while in the spring, work on a £2.5m scheme to relocate a sewage pumping station in Market Street gets underway.

But traders are furious, with many warning further traffic restrictions in the town centre could be the final nail in the coffin for some businesses struggling to stay afloat.

They are also asking why the work in Market Street was not carried out when the road was closed for over eight months last year for work on a new environmental improvement scheme. During the closure, NI Water laid a new mains sewer, but did not relocate the pumping station.

Tracey Quail, the chairwoman of the town’s Chamber of Commerce, said every business in Market Street was affected by last year’s disruption.

“We are all fighting hard to make ends meet during what are particularly difficult and challenging trading conditions,” she declared.

“The number of shoppers in Market Street has only picked up again recently and the proposed work by NI Water could have a major impact on business. How much more do we have to take?”

The Chamber official said traders need to stand together on this particular issue and asked why NI Water did not relocate the sewage pumping station while its contractors were in the town over a year ago.

She added: “We are all deeply concerned. More disruption will undoubtedly impact on business and that’s the last thing any of us need. We genuinely believed Market Street would not be dug up again, but it appears that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

An NIW spokeswoman explained while new sewers were put in place last year in Market Street, these have yet to be connected.

“The Market Street scheme involves the relocation of the existing sewage pumping station to a new site at the Grove car park. The work will involve the provision of additional sewers and pumping mains,” she continued.

“Currently, in storm conditions, unscreened sewage flows are pumped from the Market Street pumping station to the so-called plank drain. NIW has made commitments to the Environment Agency to close this pumped storm overflow to the plank drain to an acceptable location elsewhere,” she said.

The spokeswoman said planning permission for relocating the Market Street pumping station has yet to be secured, explaining if the scheme does get the green light, work is expected to commence in the spring of next year and be completed before the end of 2013.

She added: “As with all work of this nature, an element of disruption is likely in the Grove car parks and limited traffic disruption on Market Street. Traffic management will be planned and agreed with the Roads Service and the public will be advised in the weeks leading up to any disruption.”