Mid-Tyrone SDLP Councillor Seamus Shields has said that Saturday's flooding in the village of Beragh, could have been prevented by a little more foresight and appropriate action by Rivers Agency which is responsible for flood protection measures here.
"The weekend flooding caused extensive damage in the village. Worst affected were the recently completed clubrooms of the Red Knights GAA Club and a number of new dwellings in the Riverdale and Cooley Meadows estates.
Cllr Shields said that the prompt response of a number of local farmers who brought their slurry pumping equipment into action prevented a much greater disaster from taking place within the housing developments. "They succeeded in pumping the rising flood waters to the western outskirts of the village main street where there is a sufficient downward slope to allow the water to escape."
He added "I must pay a warm tribute to the public-spirited actions of the nine local farmers who answered the call for help of their distressed neighbours. Their admirable willingness to respond in the circumstances and the effectiveness of their actions is in the best traditions of the farming community in the Mid-Tyrone area."
However, he was critical of the DoE planning Service for granting approval for the two housing developments in the first place. "I warned when these planning applications came before Omagh District Council a few years ago that they were within the flood plain of the Cloughfin River and there was a risk flooding in the event of exceptional rainfall. Sadly, this has now happened.
"I believe appropriate action by the Rivers Agency can prevent it happening again in the future. The response of the farmers demonstrated that a lowering of the river bed at the western end of the village can enable the water to escape before it reaches dangerous levels. I'll be asking the Rivers Agency to take immediate steps to ensure that this type of flooding is averted in future. - with a little foresight it could have been prevented in the first place."
"I must also pay tribute to the large team of volunteers who turned out to clean up the damage in the GAA clubrooms."
West Tyrone MLA, Tom Buchanan also paid tribute to the farmers and said he wanted to make it known to all those who have been affected by the flooding that the Environment Minister, Mr Sammy Wilson, and the Finance Minister, Mr Nigel Dodds, have made funding available. "This funding will offset the immediate costs of the flooding and those who have been affected are encouraged to apply for the funding. This funding can be applied for through the Omagh District Council Offices and I would urge people to make contact with the council in order to get the arrangements made. Alternatively they are very welcome to contact my own office and we will make the necessary arrangements."
Cllr Anne Marie Fitgerald welcomed the fact that the ministers had made monies available for those affected by the floods.
A spokesperson for the Planning Office said that planners would respond to criticism in due course. Rivers Agency, was contacted by phone and e-mail failed to respond to criticisms.
