Sewage solution in pipeline for Sion Mills

DEPARTMENTAL confirmation that a public sewer in Sion Mills is to be replaced, has been tentatively welcomed.

This week, in a letter to local MLA, Daniel McCrossan’s office, the chief executive of NI Water, Sara Venning has suggested that remedial works will take place on the back of a recent ‘infiltration study.”

The issue of localised flooding in Primrose Park in Sion has been ongoing in recent years and on several occasions heavy rains resulted in raw sewage erupting from manholes.

Ms Venning explained, “Our team have confirmed an infiltration study was carried out in the Glebe to try and reduce the impact of storm water on the downstream part of the network, including Primrose Park, and this work has now been completed.

“NI Water are in the process of progressing the replacement of the public sewer along Primrose Park.”

Primrose Park resident, Andy Patton explained that the sewer replacement is the end result in a long-running battle for residents.

“We raised this on umpteen occasions and we met with them and they gave us an undertaking that they would replace the sewer,” Mr Patton commented.

“It’s good news that they have finally come on board to have something done. But we have had to fight this battle tooth and nail.

“The problem is, there was too much water coming down from the Glebe which meant that there was an over-development of houses feeding into one system. What NI Water done on Primrose Park was join the storm water with the sewage and the system couldn’t cope.

“Whenever there was heavy rain I had to park my car on the manholes to stop them popping up. We have to make sure the sewer is replaced at long last.”

Following confirmation from the chief executive of NI Water, SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan says he hopes it will go some way in rectifying the issues around sewage spillage.