O’Dowd visits Ballycolman Estate, Strabane as Interim Flood Alleviation Scheme gets underway

Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has returned to the Ballycolman Estate in Strabane as work commences this week on an Interim Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The Minister had visited the estate last month following further flooding in the area to meet with residents and elected representatives and to advise them that work was ongoing to urgently progress an interim flood alleviation scheme.        

Minister O’Dowd said: 

“I recently visited the Ballycolman Estate and other areas in the North West where I witnessed and heard first-hand accounts of the devastation caused not only by the recent flooding but also from previous flooding events.

“My Department had previously commissioned a detailed study of the causes of flooding in the Ballycolman Estate which identified both potential short and long term solutions.  I had given a commitment that work to finalise arrangements for the short term scheme to commence was underway and that I would return to the area to meet again with residents to update them.  I am pleased to confirm that appropriate legal agreements are now in place and work is getting underway on the interim scheme which will considerably reduce the risk of in-house flooding to properties at Ballycolman.

“I also fully recognise the need to introduce viable longer term solutions as swiftly as possible to reduce the impacts of further flooding.  That is why my Department is taking forward, where possible, a number of flood alleviation proposals in various locations across the north, including Drumahoe, Eglinton and Derry City."  

To report incidents of flooding, please contact the Flooding Incident Line on 0300 2000 100. 

Notes to editors: 

1. The works will reprofile the road outside the affected properties to allow surface water to discharge into the adjacent sports field/running track, thereby creating storage for flood water and prevent water being impounded around the homes. The interim scheme is due to be completed in October 2022.  
2. The schemes being developed for Eglinton and Drumahoe, are intended to reduce the impact of any potential fluvial (river) flooding, while the Derry scheme considers both coastal and fluvial flood risk.
3. All of these Department schemes take account of Climate Change in their designs and provide flood protection for 1 in 100 year event inclusive of allowances for climate change in line with current Departmental guidance.
4. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
6. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure

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