Omagh residents hope to sit down with DfI to discuss flooding

RESIDENTS, businesses and members of an Omagh church are worried that significant damage is destined to reoccur if a nearby brook is allowed to burst its banks again.

People with properties around the Brookmount and Tamlaght Road were at the mercy of the winter weather last year when heavy December downpours saturated a small creek in the area, causing major flooding issues.

Following a decision reached during a Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Environmental Services Committee meeting last week, local residents hope to soon meet with local representatives and officials from the Department of Instructure (DfI) to discuss a long-term solution the looming threat.

Raising the idea of writing to DfI Rivers to request a site meeting, Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly said, “I have met with residents from the Brookmount and Tamlaght Road areas to discuss recently flooding as a result of overspill from a nearby stream. The stream runs along a number of different households and businesses, as well the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“I heard first-hand from Melanie O’Kane, owner of Cornabracken childcare, about the damage that was inflicted on her business – which provides such critical economic infrastructure and support to parents – back in December.

“It is felt that a big part of the problem is the structure of the bridge that covers the stream itself, and whilst DfI has had people recently involved in removing blockages, I would propose that we write to them to request a site meeting.”

One local woman who has lived on the Brookmount Road told this newspaper the flooding was ‘a nightmare’.

Ann Gallagher said, “It’s been a nightmare. Quite a few of our houses lie low relative to the stream, and what happened in December could have been much worse.

“We want reassurance that this will seriously be looked at because flooding around here is getting worse and the damage that it has caused to this community will only continue if left unaddressed.”

In a statement, FODC said, “The Council’s Local Development Plan (2023) recognises the impact of climate change and global warming on rising sea levels and more periods of heavy rainfall and intense storms, both of which can lead to flooding from peak river flows and surface water.

“The LDP recognises the importance of appropriate and fit for purpose infrastructure and DfI Rivers are the competent authority to comment on such matters.”