Stormont office will probe town flooding response

Stormont office will probe town flooding response

6 December 2023

THE Northern Ireland Executive Office is to investigate the cause of town centre flooding in Downpatrick and the Department of Infrastructure’s response to it.

Confirmation of the six-month investigation comes just over one month since the unprecedented flood caused millions of pounds worth of damage.

After the wettest October on record, Downpatrick town centre was left under four feet of water at the start of last month, with the level in some businesses even higher after the swollen Quoile river burst its banks. 

Water poured in at a frightening rate, flooding St Patrick’s Square, Market Street and St Patrick’s Avenue in a matter of hours and destroying businesses. 

Shocked traders were greeted by an apocalyptic scene, but were helpless to act. They could only looked on in stunned silence, watching the rising flood water and counting the cost. 

In the wake of the flood, calls intensified for urgent financial support, with questions being asking what exactly happened and how millions of gallons of water gushed into the town centre?

A call was also made for an independent review of what happened with all the various agencies, including the Department for infrastructure, asked to respond, with the outcome made public.

The spotlight was also shone on what potential measures could be implemented to prevent major flooding in the future, including dredging the Quoile river to remove tonnes of silt and other debris which many believe contributed to last week’s catastrophic event.

Last week, South Down MLAs Colin McGrath and Patrick Brown were among a number of politicians who met with senior Department for Infrastructure officials.

Mr McGrath said the town centre flood in Downpatrick was nothing like anyone had ever witnesses before.

“If we want to prevent this from happening again then we really need to gain a full understanding of what happened and what went wrong,” said Mr McGrath.

The Assemblyman said that following a meeting with senior DfI officials, The Executive Office will now manage the independent review of how the government department responded to recent flooding. 

“This is a really important step to painting a full picture of these events,” Mr McGrath continued.

“But we weren’t particularly impressed that the review would take six months. Therefore, all parties were able to impress upon DfI the need to keep political parties updated and to meet those conducting the review, as well as traders and local community groups.

“This issue is too important to be put on the back burner and again emphasises the need for the Assembly and Executive.”

Mr Brown said it was “encouraging” to take part in the cross-party delegation discussion and put serious questions to DfI officials over their role and responsibility for flood preparedness and defences in South Down, particularly Downpatrick.

“Whilst officials stressed that recent floods were caused by unprecedented amounts of rainfall, and budgets played a constraining factor in their response, all MLAs were united in saying that more could have been done to limit the scale of damage in Downpatrick,” he said.

“I pointed out that of the 70-plus Downpatrick businesses I surveyed since the flood, not one had any warning at any time from any public body — something the DfI accepts — was unacceptable and will inform future improvements.”

Mr Brown added: “It is unacceptable that after the risk of flooding was clear as early as Monday, and parts of Newry and Newcastle were under water on Tuesday and Wednesday, no warning whatsoever went out to traders in the lowest parts of Downpatrick most at risk of flooding.

“We also raised the issue of management of the Quoile river and were encouraged that officials confirmed an accelerated review process is being carried out on flood defences in Downpatrick.

“I have no doubt this will lead to an identification of need for improved defences around the Quoile barrier, but it was frustrating that the DfI continues to deny that significant dredging of the Quoile would have made a difference on the scale of flooding. This is a position I just cannot accept.”