Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker
I wish to thank my party colleague Lord Browne for securing this adjournment debate on what is an ongoing and serious problem within the East Belfast constituency. If memory serves me correctly this is the second time this subject has been debated within the House. And the matter has been raised during question time and face to face meetings with Ministers through delegations of residents and business owners suffering from the flooding.
I would like to put on record my thanks to the Finance Minister and the Environment Minister, who took time out of their busy schedules to visit residents within my constituency and for the Finance Minister once again making the flood relief payment available.
Over the past three years we have seen East Belfast being hit by some of the worst floods throughout the Province. We have witnessed homes in areas such as Cregagh, Clonduff, Castlereagh and Clarawood being repeatedly damaged as a result of flooding. This has left many residents worried every time heavy rain is forecast, with many keeping sandbags permanently outside their homes as a precaution.
Having met with a large numbers of residents from the areas affected and representatives from the Rivers and Roads agencies over the past few months regarding this issue, I can understand their frustration at what seems like nothing is being done to help resolve this problem.
There appears to be some confusion amongst the departments over who is actually responsible for the maintenance of the rivers and tributaries which are contributing to causing the problems, some of these unmapped. This is especially true in the Clonduff estate, where one resident has been flooded four times in eleven years and with no clear strategy being developed to bring this to an end. Instead we have seen various departments trying to decide who is responsible for the problem and who should be responsible for bringing about a solution to the problem.
This is not a problem which is unique to this area but we need a strategy and action to find a solution. This leads to further confusion for the residents, who are actively seeking an end to the problem of sporadic flooding.
I would like to emphasise there is a need for a joined up strategy to be developed, not only within the East Belfast constituency but a strategy for the whole of Northern Ireland to bring about an end to this problem. I am aware that certain elements play a role which cannot be prevented, but surely there can be a strategy developed which would bring some relief and reassurance to the people who are under threat of flooding.
The argument for a joined up approach is further emphasised by Belfast City Council, which has compiled a number of proposals from members on the Health and Environmental Services Committee and the Members Flood Group. Some of these proposals include:
• A need to improve communication between agencies and the public on improvement work being undertaken or planned.
• A need to develop a government scheme to aid householders who are suffering increased insurance premiums due to risk of flooding.
• Northern Ireland Housing Executive needs to consider flood protection measures.
• Further joined up working on the provision of sandbags is required.
There are a number of other proposals but due to time constraints I am unable to go into any further details on these proposals.
I would like to thank the Minister for attending this adjournment debate, one I think he/she will agree is of the highest importance to the residents. It causes a great deal of suffering and apprehension for residents, who fear every time there is heavy rainfall that once again their homes or businesses will again flood and they have to start the clean up all over again.
There is a clear need for a strategy to be agreed as to how best the issue can be resolved and this involves inter departmental cooperation. Lets get this problem resolved once and far all; without a long term strategy we are going to see the problem with flooding only getting worse and more and more people suffering as a result of flooding. There is no solution to this problem without concentrated action and residents deserve a solution.
