Future flooding could cost Omagh £48 million

A FLOOD alleviation report which forecast that the economic cost of another major deluge in Omagh would be in the region of £48 million is to be revised by the Department for Infrastructure.

The North West River Basin Flood Management Scheme was published five years ago and examined areas where the risks were especially high.

These included the Omagh town areas of Campsie, Sedan Avenue, Drumragh Avenue, Mountjoy Road, Irishtown Road, Dublin Road and Bridge Street, which have been severely flooded on a number of occasions in the past 100 years.

Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, said the new study would take into account climate change and if other viable options could be identified to reduce flooding.

“In the short term, my department is carrying out a local flood study for the ‘Dry Arch’ of Campsie Bridge.

“The purpose of this local study is to determine if a viable flood alleviation scheme could be taken forward to prevent flooding to a small number of basements on Lower Market Street. It is anticipated that this local study will be completed in early summer,” she said.

The minister added that a number of flood studies had been carried out to assess the level of risk to properties and determine if a viable scheme could be brought forward, but that none of these to date were found to be feasible or economically viable.

She was responding to a question from West Tyrone SDLP MLA, Daniel McCrossan, who said flood defences must be a priority for the town.

“There has been ongoing concern for a number of years regarding flooding in the Campsie area and I hope that a scheme can be brought forward in the near future, especially for residents in Lower Market Street,” Mr McCrossan stated.