Newcastle community support group has raised concerns over ‘sticking plaster’ flood solutions
A Co Down group set up to help flood hit communities is on the verge of collapse amid claims local pensioners are “suicidal” about the threat of future storms devastating homes. The Newcastle Regional Community Resilience Group (NRCRG) was set up after recent floods in the seaside town, but now says “sticking plaster” solutions have left them on the verge of collapse. The community organisation was established following a perceived lack of government agency support, when their homes were submerged in 2019 and 2023 causing severe water damage as well as insurance policy hikes.
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Group co-founder and flooding victim, Sam Anderson spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) this week as heavy rain began to fall in south Down. He said: “I know of a pensioner living in the area, that when another storm comes along, they are that afraid they have told me they feel suicidal in fear of the flood damage about to hit. “Nobody has ever really supported us, we’re beating our heads against a brick wall and we feel that the group will collapse. We’ve spent the last 18 months since the November 2023 floods, engaging with all the agencies and even had a meeting with the DfI (Department for Infrastructure) Minister Liz Kimmins who came down to Newcastle, various councillors, MLAs and MP. We have exhausted our engagement. “It has been fairly intensive with a lot of effort, but the net result is we have a sticking plaster solution to cover over the cracks.”
Over 600 homes and businesses were flooded in counties Armagh and Down following record rainfall (Nov 2023) that saw DfI flow and level gauges record the highest levels in the last 30 years in the areas of the southeast.
A community reaction saw multiple resilience groups being created throughout the district following meetings facilitated by the local authority. Sam added: “So, we are being given promises, promises but we know there is no solution, no concrete things being done. The only thing we can point to is we got another container of sandbags in the local park just in case we need them. So we need somebody to come along and say this is how we are going to solve your flooding risk issue. “The thing is, it is not even a flood risk, it is just a matter of when it will flood again, because it will flood again in our locality.” After the recent floods, the NI Executive commissioned independent research ‘Jacobs’ which involved 31 agencies from across Northern Ireland as well as stakeholders and the public to outline a number of improvements that needed to be made. In July 2024, a report into the autumn 2023 floods that left parts of Downpatrick, Newcastle, Newry and Portadown under water, found the drainage systems in place were unable to cope in some of the worst-hit areas.
Mournes Alliance councillor, Jill Truesdale has raised the NRCRG concerns at the local authority chamber. Speaking to the LDRS, she said: “I am very alarmed and disappointed to learn that the group is now considering winding up its operations. While the group has cited a number of reasons, including lack of meaningful engagement, response and answers to various ongoing outstanding issues, the main reason is the lack of a formal, written protocol for flooding incidents. “This has not been easy for any of them and they are to be commended for their resilience and diligence but they fear this is not a sustainable basis for an emergency protocol and the Group. Ultimately they want all involved agencies to commit to a written protocol put in place without delay.” A Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) spokesperson said: “The council has focused on strengthening engagement between the Community Resilience Groups within the district and all multi-agency partners by providing key measures including; the issuing of text alerts for when the Met Office communicates severe weather warnings, access to community sandbag containers, river level alert messaging if appropriate and the development of community plans to coordinate a community response, should action be required. “The council values the commitment of local volunteers involved in the Newcastle Community Resilience Group.”
DfI has referred to a £6.3m flood alleviation scheme at the Shimna River as well as water level monitoring, water pumping and thousands of sandbags to assist in the groups’ concerns.
A department spokesperson said: “The department is disappointed to hear that Newcastle RCRG feels that it may have no option but to dissolve. The department maintains four sandbag containers in the vicinity containing some 2500-3000 sandbags. Members have also been provided with online links to view the two river level measuring stations within Newcastle. “In addition, NI Water is undertaking modelling work to establish if there are any changes that could be made to the layout of its infrastructure in the Marguerite Park area to assist in further reducing the risk of out of sewer flooding during extreme weather events. “The DfI Roads team continues to provide an out of hours emergency response service and, as in the past, will respond to reports of flooding on public roads within Newcastle and provide sandbags if required. The road gullies in Newcastle are regularly inspected to ensure they remain operational. On receipt of a weather warning for heavy rainfall every effort is made to inspect the road gullies within Marguerite Park, and the Bryansford Road/Avenue area of Newcastle. “The department is also working in partnership with local government to consider additional dedicated resources to liaise with the increasing number of resilience groups and to further improve resilience in local communities where flooding continues to be a source of real and significant concern.”
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