Businesses 'underwhelmed' by draft flooding report

Business representatives in Downpatrick have been "underwhelmed" by the draft findings of a multi-agency investigation into severe flooding in the town.

Last autumn, Downpatrick as well as parts of Newry, Newcastle and Portadown, were badly impacted after more than double the monthly amount of rain fell in one week.

Wednesday's draft findings highlighted the significant level of rainfall but did not provide detail on infrastructural solutions or maintenance works which could prevent future incidents.

The draft report was released at an event in Downpatrick Leisure Centre on Wednesday.

Shelley Teggart owns two shops in Downpatrick. Both will be fully reopened by the end of this week.

She says the event did little to reassure her that last autumn’s flooding will not happen again.

“I’m underwhelmed,” she said.

“We need to know that this will not happen again, businesses couldn’t come back a second time around.

“This has gone from clean and tidy up to firefighting to keep our head above the water. We’ve invested a lot of money of our own so we need to know that it won’t happen again.”

Roger Pollen of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) was also underwhelmed.

“I was hoping to hear what would be done to prevent things like this in the future but it seemed to be something of a rear-view mirror exercise.

“I very much hope they take this lack of enthusiasm away and come up with an action plan of how to deal with it.

“There are two parts of this - make sure this isn’t going to happen again and the other is to make financial restitution for what has happened and we are also underwhelmed with that.

“Money was made available last November and everyone was making the right noises but that has stalled in the last few months. Many businesses are still waiting for support to get back on their feet.”

In a statement Newry, Mourne and Down Council said financial support from a £15m fund was being released.

“Under the Enhanced Flood Support Scheme, by the end of this week the council will have processed and issued Letters of Offer (LOO) up to a combined total value in excess of £3m to those businesses who have met the criteria.

"The council have already made payments in excess of £1m of support. In addition, a total of approximately £140k will have been paid out under the Hardship Scheme.”

Wednesday evening’s event was one of three scheduled this week.

On Tuesday night. a presentation was given in Portadown and on Thursday a presentation will take place in Newry.

Among the businesses severely damaged was Digney Grant Insurance Brokers in the Sugar Island area of Newry.

They’ve since reopened their premises – but managing Director Anthony Boden says the slow pace of progress on all aspects of flood recovery has been disheartening.

“There’s a lot of frustration about the town in terms of the time it has taken to get the funds out,” he said.

“Really it shouldn’t have taken this amount of time. It was agreed in mid-November so really it should have been sorted by now."

Mr Boden added: "From the insurance point of view, in terms of mitigation and alleviation nothing has happened to date which is very concerning because this could happen again.

“What I want to see, as a business owner, is a plan that if this does happen that we all kick into action. That something is written down and in place."

Insurance cover is also a concern, Mr Boden said: "No insurance company that is going to entertain flood cover in this area of Newry or in Downpatrick until formal alleviation plans are put in place.”