Down battered by wind and rain over holidays

Down battered by wind and rain over holidays

6 January 2016

HEAVY wind and rain which battered the district last week during Storm Frank wreaked havoc, flooding roads and bringing down trees in a number of locations.

The district was hammered by gale force winds with a number of roads blocked by fallen trees and a number of sports facilities, including the cricket ground in Dundrum, were under several feet of water.

While Northern Ireland was battered for several hours, the destructive storm did not have the same impact locally as it had in other parts of the Province.

Gusts of up to 80mph were reported in some locations, with emergency crews working around the clock to clear blocked roads. The Met Office reported that in some parts of Co Down, half a month’s rainfall fell in just three hours, while across Northern Ireland a quarter of the average rainfall for December fell from the skies last Tuesday night and during the early hours of Wednesday.

Emergency crews were deployed to Annsborough last Wednesday morning to distribute sandbags to homes threatened by flood water, but none of the properties were damaged with flood water subsequently receding.

Members of the Ardglass-based Streetsafe organisation captured a number of stunning images of huge waves crashing over the harbour wall at the height of the storm. As conditions worsened, the harbour was closed.

Castlewellan was affected by a number of road closures after trees blocked the Ballylough and Station roads, with the Drumcullen Road in Downpatrick closed for a time after a tree brought down an electricity cable.

A section of footpath at Fisherman’s Row in Killough collapsed prompting roads officials to carry out emergency repairs, while a tree at the Ford Road in Ballykinlar, which was in danger of collapse, was attended by roads officials who removed a number of heavy branches.

Huge waves crashed over the wall at Newcastle’s South Promenade while fields surrounding Drumaness village were under several feet of water. There were similar scenes in Drumaroad.

Sports pitches at Dunleath Park in Downpatrick were flooded, as was the nearby car park at the Down Leisure Centre. 

Part of the Strangford Road in Downpatrick was flooded at the entrance to Down Hockey Club’s Malone Park ground with water bubbling up through a man hole cover.

The water level at the Quoile River was the highest it has been in recent years while, while a section of the Quoile Road in Downpatrick was also flooded.

Storm Frank also resulted in a small boat being blown on to rocks in Dundrum, while the Ardilea Road near Mount Panther outside the village was also flooded.

Trees were also reported down at the Finnebrogue Road outside Downpatrick and close to the entrance to Delamont Country Park.

Councillor Dermot Curran has paid tribute to Transport NI, Rivers Agency, Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials and those from other statutory agencies who worked tirelessly in the wake of Storm Frank.

“At a time like this we have to praise those who venture out in terrible weather conditions to clear blocked roads and tackle flooding issues. They brave the elements on our behalf and 

thoroughly deserve our thanks and praise,” he continued.

“The south of the constituency bore the brunt of the storm damage and while Down District was affected, the situation was not as bad. Nonetheless, it still required a response from the statutory agencies which is very much appreciated.”

Councillor Curran said many people across the district are grateful for the efforts of all the statutory agencies during the clean-up operation in the wake of last week’s storm. He said it is also important during poor weather that people check on their elderly neighbours.