Meeting with NI Water as flooding causes havoc

With heavy rain forecast for today and tomorrow services are on the alert for more local flooding after several areas across the city were badly affected, with one Hillhall resident’s home being flooded for the third time.

Elsewhere on Monday, work was disrupted at the Bridge Community Centre and roads around the Civic Centre were submerged.

The floods in Hillhall have led MLA Edwin Poots and Alderman Paul Porter to arrange an urgent meeting with NI Water.

Mr Porter said: “This has been going on for some time. There are certain tenants who have been flooded for the third time.”

He said the problem was exacerbated by the size and layout of the pipes in Hillhall.

“We have had meetings in the past with NI Water, even out on site, but as of yet this hasn’t been resolved” he said.

“This has been all too regular, unfortunately, and even in the middle of summer we’re facing this. It’s the tenants who are suffering. Sometimes it’s not just flooding, sometimes it’s sewage and something needs to be done, this is not just a one off.”

Mr Poots added: “NI Water recognise there are significant problems, the difficulty is overcoming where the pipes are laid in houses and gardens. There needs to be significant investment to resolve this.”

A Lisburn City Council spokesperson said: “There have been a number of reports of flooding in the Lisburn area following the recent heavy rainfall during the last week.

“This includes the Bridge Community Centre, which has experienced flood damage at basement level affecting Office accommodation and the Centre’s lift. The Council is currently working with users regarding the temporary relocation of a number of its services.

“Any householder wishing the Council to inspect flooding in their home should contact its Environmental Health Section on Tel: 9250 9417. While it is the responsibility of the DoE to invoke its Flooding Emergency Payment Scheme, the Council can provide inspection reports to the DoE in the event of the Scheme being activated.”

The Mayor, Alderman William Leathem, said he was acutely aware of the destruction and hardship caused by flooding.

“My sympathies are with anybody who has been affected and I hope that, with the right support, life will return to normal as soon as possible,” said Mr Leathem.

An NI Water Spokesperson said: “Following heavy rainfall across the South Belfast, Dunmurry and Lisburn areas on Monday, we responded to a small number of out-of-sewer flooding incidents. Out-of-sewer flooding occurs when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewage system and floodwater emerges from the sewer manholes.

“In Belfast, our crews attended a flooding incident in Sicily Park. The sewers were found to be overwhelmed and the sewers to surcharge. Our staff and contractors have carried out a clean-up operation to assist those who have been affectedg.

“In Lisburn we have dealt with reports of flooding in Ashmount Gardens, Wallace Park and Magheralave Road.

“All our sympathies are with the residents affected in what is clearly a distressing experience for everyone. Every effort was made to alleviate the flooding in the affected areas as quickly as possible and assist with the clean-up operation.

“Any customers who require further information or who have been affected by out-of-sewer flooding should contact NI Water on 08457 44 00 88.”