What can be done to prevent floods from happening again?
Thursday, 28 August 2008
ANTRIM Borough Council has demanded showdown talks with government agencies to discuss flood emergency services following the heavy downpour earlier this month, which could see Council payments rise above £200,000.
A preliminary meeting will take place in the Council Chamber this Thursday (August 28) when councillors will voice their concerns and a subsequent report will be issued to relevant departments.
However, it is believed discussions with the governmental bodies, such as the Rivers Agency, Fire and Rescue Services and Northern Ireland Water, could be months away.
In the week following the unprecedented rain, an emergency payment scheme offering £1,000 to victims was set up and Council is currently processing many of the claims.
To date, between 200 and 210 calls have been made for the compensation packets while officers assess the damage.
Following the heavy rain on Saturday August 16, which saw a month's rainfall in just 12 hours, emergency plans were initiated in an attempt to minimise distress for flood victims.
Stiles Community Centre opened as an advice shelter 45 minutes after being contacted and Social Services were on site shortly after.
A Council recovery team was employed on Monday morning (August 18) to assist local people with the major clean-up operation that followed the disaster and many residents whose homes were badly affected by the flooding were offered free accommodation at a local hotel.
Antrim Borough Council Chief Executive, David McCammick, praised the efforts of Council staff, many of whom helped out voluntarily.
It is understood the procedures, which tackled the severe flooding, will be discussed at Thursday's Council meeting, however, a number of elected representatives will be demanding that preventative measures are explored further.
Traditional Unionist Mel Lucas said councillors must 'concentrate' on what can be done to stop heavy flooding in the future.
“When the water is running down the road there is very little you can do," he said. "We need to look at how we can prevent such incidents from happening again.
“There has been very little investment in flood barriers and it's obvious the agencies do not want to spend money on prevention or building defences.
“We have to invite the various agencies to Council and ask them about possible future measures. Victims of the flood would want us to put pressure on these agencies and I think it is our duty to the ratepayer."
Due to the lengthy time scale needed to organise talks with all the bodies, Mr McCammick recommended a preliminary meeting to compile a review of the flooding.
Sinn Fein councillor Henry Cushinan agreed that a 'knee jerk' reaction was not what was needed.
“When we collect all the information surrounding the flooding we can issue our report to the different departments," he said.
DUP councillor Sam Dunlop defended the length of time it would take agencies to be able to attend a meeting in Antrim.
“These agencies are responsible for the whole of Northern Ireland and it takes time to assess the flooding in all parts of the country," he said.
UUP Alderman Mervyn Rea, however, admitted some councillors in Antrim were left wanting as emergency calls came in.
“A number of councillors rang me during the downpour asking what course of action should be taken and there are still many who are unclear," he said. "God forbid the same thing happens next week."
