Debate contribution: Flooding in South Down: Economic Recovery

Debate contribution by Ms Diane Forsythe on 27 February 2024.

MLA

Ms Diane Forsythe

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

27 February 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Flooding in South Down: Economic Recovery

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4238150

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Alliance Member for South Down for bringing the issue to the Chamber. The severity of the flooding in South Down last October and November was the worst that the area has experienced. Impacts have been devastating and significant, both in the short term and the longer term. The short-term impacts were heartbreaking. The operation to clean up lost stock was huge. In so many cases, additional seasonal stock had been bought in for Christmas at significant cost. The damage and loss of shop and business machinery, furniture and equipment was immediately apparent. It was incredibly clear that it would not be a simple case of moving a business and setting up elsewhere. Any relocation required significant set-up costs and was not just a simple move. Meeting such costs at a time of devastation and with no income coming in was unachievable for many businesses. The short-term support at the time was neither clear enough nor quick enough to assist people in their time of dire need. In the longer term, many businesses have struggled and have taken the difficult decision to close. The moving of businesses temporarily has displaced the town centre and confused shoppers who are not regular visitors to the area. The temporary closure of the large Asda store in Downpatrick saw a huge drop in footfall to the town, and I am grateful to those in Asda management who so quickly constructed and opened a restored large store in Downpatrick, which helped with footfall. The longer-term impact of the flooding is still very much being felt.

Before the flooding, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council had invested much time, money and effort into the Downpatrick living high street scheme, which was an energetic initiative that was created to give hope and revitalise the town. I know that many Members from around the Chamber were actively involved in that. Right before the flooding, that had generated great hope, and I was quite energised to go down and join some of the meetings. It is very sad to see where we have ended up.

Yes.

Absolutely.

Thank you very much. The long term is very important. I welcome the Economy Minister's announcement that the remaining £10 million from the flood recovery scheme is being made available, and I hope that that aids the longer-term recovery. However, as I mentioned, it is disappointing that that money may be too late to save many businesses. It is disappointing that, despite united and repeated calls at the time by local MLAs from all parties, the Secretary of State did not make enough money available when people were in crisis and needed it most. There needs to be learning from this incident across many areas, but I specifically refer to the need to learn and develop plans that make us capable of rolling out financial support efficiently and effectively in response to emergency situations. Obviously, we do not want to see such situations recurring, but when they do, we need to have learned from previous occasions. We need to see the prompt roll-out of the money, and I welcome the confirmation from councillors on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council that, last night, its strategy, policy and resources committee committed to the prompt roll-out of that. I record my thanks to the council members for their response and support throughout the crisis. They stepped up and took the lead in many areas, even though the issues with the floods, rivers and roads were not their responsibility; they were the responsibility of the Department for Infrastructure. The economic recovery also requires a restoration of public confidence. There is huge concern throughout the area, to which other contributors referred, that we might see such flooding again. For a long time, local rivers have experienced significant issues that have never been resolved and have worn away areas, which have compromised the road network. In the Kilkeel area, that was most evident when the main road into the town collapsed and the area was completely cut off until repairs were completed. Also, localised flooding on a smaller scale has been a problem for a long time, with many issues failing to be addressed time and time again. That, alongside gullies not being emptied regularly, contributed to the issues that arose when we experienced severe weather and extreme rainfall. The cumulative effect of all those deficiencies was the absolute devastation that we faced. I call on the Department for Infrastructure to reassure the public by urgently publishing information about all the work that it has completed following the flood to assess the risk of repeat flooding; the measures that it has put in place to prevent future flooding; and its assessment of the integrity of the local roads system, including bridges, that details where rivers and floods have repeatedly compromised roads and the Department's actions on that. The Department needs to build public confidence that their infrastructure is safe and sufficient and that they are protected from future flooding. While the debate is focused on South Down, I also note the devastation that flooding caused to businesses in Newry, Portadown and Comber. We do not want to see that anywhere in Northern Ireland. In conclusion, there is a lot to be done to support the economic recovery from flooding. The immediate priority needs to be getting the support to those who are most affected and in need. It will be a long recovery process. It will require a joined-up effort with central Government, the local council and our community groups. We cannot take our eyes off the ball, and it is critical that the Department for Infrastructure takes urgent steps to ensure that it will not happen again and to reassure us of that. I thank the Economy Minister for attending this afternoon and for his prompt action in making funds available before the end of March. I call on him to support economic recovery programmes for the South Down area.

996 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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