BY MICHAEL DEVLIN

NEW chairman of Omagh District Council, Bert Wilson, says he will be petitioning the Northern Ireland Assembly for further compensation for those effected by last week's flooding. On Tuesday of last week a Monsoon-like deluge caused wide-spread destruction after an inch of rain feel in less than three hours. Homes and businesses across Omagh were left counting the costs as they were overrun by the rising water. Parked cars were also submerged and the main routes to and from the town were impassable.

However, under the terms set out for emergency payment, only domestic properties currently qualify.

"My whole problem with this situation is that businesses were not included within the payment," Cllr Wilson explained. "Businesses should have been included in some way. I know of one business, where this is the sixth time they have been flooded – it's not good enough. Insurance companies may pay out for damage, this is true, but what will that do to the premiums?"

At the moment, homes damaged by the flood will, after assessment, be eligible for £1,000 compensation. Cllr Wilson believes this was a hasty fix to a bigger problem.

He continued, "I think the Minister, Arlene Foster, rushed into the £1,000 payment scheme. Other people like the owners of those cars left under water and the business which were effected should also have been considered for some money.

"There should have been something, and this is an issue we will be looking at changing."

DOMESTIC

Meanwhile, officers from Omagh District Council are continuing the work undertaken over the weekend to assess domestic properties in Omagh affected by the flooding and it is understood that the first payments of £1,000 were released on Monday.

Those householders who are eligible for payment were contacted directly by council staff in order to make arrangements to release the funds to them.

Staff from the council's Environmental Health Department have currently undertaken assessments at 66 properties, many of whom are deemed eligible to receive payment under the emergency funding made available by the Minister for the Environment. However, this number is set to increase as assessment requests are continuing to be received.

"I would also like to pay tribute to the council staff and the Environmental Health Department for all their hard work in trying to get the problem sorted out," Cllr Wilson added. "Their workmen have also been hard at work assisting with the clean up in the gardens and homes of local people."

The Council would encourage any affected householder who has not already registered with Omagh District Council to do so as soon as possible by telephoning the helpdesk on 028 82245321.

I think the Minister, Arlene Foster, rushed into the £1,000 payment scheme

- Cllr Bert Wilson