Koram Square drainage upgrade needs to be ‘priority’, says MLA

CALLS have been made for the drainage system in Koram Square to be upgraded ‘as a priority’ after the latest spate of flooding in the area.

West Tyrone MLA, Maolíosa McHugh, said that, after the torrential downpours seen earlier this week, there was a need to address repeated flooding in that area of town.

Mr McHugh said, “At a site meeting I held with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in April, officials acknowledged that the drainage system in the area is archaic, and not able to handle the increasingly-heavy deluges of rain that we are now getting, especially during summer months.

“I was told that an upgrade of the drainage network in the area was needed to fully address the problem, but cautioned that this would be dependent upon the necessary funding becoming available. DfI did make a commitment in the meantime to clear drains on a regular basis.”

While the MLA acknowledged the budgetary pressures government departments were under at the present time, he wants a flood alleviation scheme for the area to be ‘prioritised’, similar to the one in Ballycolman.

In the past, there have been numerous incidents of flooding in Strabane; most notably last July, when a section of houses at the bottom of Ballycolman Estate were left flooded thanks to one night of downpours. In August last year, then Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd visited residents in the flood-hit area to announce a £100,000 scheme in an attempt to stop the same thing happening.

Mr McHugh remarked that West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley had now requested a further site meeting in relation to Koram Square, and in relation to constant surface water flooding at Bridge Street.

The MLA added, “I wish to commend all those who helped out on the ground at Koram Square and the wider Strabane area and for DfI and council for following up on representations for assistance.”