‘Productive’ site meeting over sports pitches flooding issues

‘Productive’ site meeting over sports pitches flooding issues

16 October 2019

A SITE meeting to discuss a flooding problem at the St Dillion’s Avenue sports pitch in Downpatrick has been described as “robust and productive”.

Last Wednesday’s meeting with senior Rivers Agency officials was organised by South Down MLA Colin McGrath and local councillor John Trainor in the wake of increasing residents’ concern about the problem.

A large section of land at St Dillon’s Avenue has been under water for a considerable number of months with the issue a major concern for residents and elected representatives.

There are suggestions locally that work at the former Downe Hospital site — which is located  nearby — could be contributing to the flooding issue.

Local people have reported that for years, storm water run-off from the nearby Knocknashinna housing estate made its way under the sports pitches at St Dillon’s Avenue and on to a stream located at the rear of the former St John’s House residential care home located at the old hospital site.

The water in the stream then made its way to marshland at the Ballydugan Road adjacent to the sprawling retail complex.

There are reports locally that the stream may have been impacted as a result of work at the old hospital site to provide new social housing. The suggestion was one of the issues raised at last week’s meeting.

Mr McGrath said he and Cllr Trainor have received “multiple calls” from concerned residents about this persistent flooding. He also warned that to suggest the issue is just surface water  which has gathered after heavy rainfall was “nonsense”.

The Assemblyman continued: “This is an issue which has only raised its head in the last six to eight weeks.  Cllr Trainor and I met with rivers officials to discuss the problem and to see where the possible cause of the flooding is.

“The meeting was incredibly robust and productive with 

manholes beside the playing fields, along John Street and at the new play park at Edward Street all inspected to identify if there are any blockages that may be contributing to the flooding.”

Mr McGrath said that the inspection revealed that there was no debris, suggesting that this did not appear to be the cause of the flooding.  

“Officials have concluded that based on their investigations that the flooding may be caused by a blockage within the storm sewer further downstream,” he continued.

“They have identified a possible location for this and I have suggested a CCTV investigation which rivers officials are to carry out. I hope that this exercise is completed quickly.”

Cllr Trainor confirmed that he and Mr McGrath have written to Northern Ireland Water to bring its officials up to speed on last week’s site meeting.

He added: “We have asked NI Water to carry out its own investigation to help address the flooding issue. Hopefully, this will bring the matter to a positive resolution for all. 

“It is essential that these works are carried out as quickly as possible for the good of all within the local area and the cause of the flooding identified and resolved.”

Last week, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, which is responsible for the St Dillon’s Avenue sports pitches, said the organisation is working with the Education Authority to assess the causes and impact of the flooding.