THE RISK of more severe flooding in Fermanagh and the Border counties could be eased if Northern authorities and the ESB review their strategies, an inquiry has found.
A report by a special taskforce, set up by Stormont after last November’s floods in the region, said more needs to be done to alleviate the impact of future flooding.
The Erne system is managed jointly by the Rivers Authority in Northern Ireland and the ESB which operates a hydro-electric scheme in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Between them, they should review how water levels in the Erne are managed, the taskforce said. The Erne contains water which drains from Fermanagh, Monaghan, Cavan and Leitrim.
Large tracts of Fermanagh remained submerged for days after persistent heavy rains in late October and early November forced levels in the Erne system to record highs. Emergency short-term measures were put into place and the Stormont Executive called for the taskforce report to help decide on a longer-term policy.
Its findings, published yesterday, call for two key roads to be raised to safer levels in a bid to prevent severe disruption to transport. It also called for greater flood defences in Enniskillen and at a water treatment plant at Killyhevlin.
The report admits that the risk of future severe flooding on the scale of what was suffered in 2009 cannot be entirely removed, and central to its recommendations is a call for better co-ordination and water level reviews by agencies on both sides of the Border.
The recommendations, which will have spending implications at a time when the Executive is bracing itself for expenditure cuts imposed by London, have been welcomed by Ministers on all sides at Stormont.
Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew commended the public’s co-operation with the taskforce and said: “I welcome the fact that the necessary funding to raise and improve roads has been identified and with work beginning shortly, I hope that this will offer some reassurance to affected communities.”
Industry Minister Arlene Foster added: “The November flooding created very real and significant problems for so many people in Fermanagh as their daily lives were disrupted. While local people supported one another to overcome these difficulties, it was clear that more needed to be done.”
Ministers Edwin Poots of the DUP and Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy also welcomed the report. However, SDLP Fermanagh Assembly member Tommy Gallagher questioned if the suggested figure for road improvements would meet the county’s needs.
“Over £1 million for road improvements will not be enough to do all the work required or even cover all the roads mentioned,” he said. “The Roads Service must draw up its own action plan and spell out work that it intends to do.
“There are families, farms and businesses in places like Boho and Newtownbutler that are affected by flooding every year and immediate steps must be taken to end the crisis. Problems in prioritised areas must be addressed as a matter of urgency,” he added.