East Derry MLA calls for action on flooding

East Derry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter has said more action needs to be taken to address historic and ongoing flooding concerns in the Greysteel and Limavady areas.

She said her office has been inundated with complaints from residents whose homes and property have been severely damaged.

Ms Hunter said: “Residents are living at the mercy of the weather and what they fear most is a forecast indicating heavy rainfall. The footage that has been shared with me by residents in Greysteel and Limavady has been shocking and is a common occurrence year after year.

"It is simply not good enough to throw compensation money at the problem - what is needed are preventable measures that will remove the risk to residents and their properties.

“I contacted the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Infrastructure to highlight these concerns and the response back indicates that some action has already been taken with more planned.

"While this progress is to be welcomed it is far from reassuring for residents who have been facing these same issues year after year and face further waits.

"The department has also pointed out that inadequate maintenance of third-party land drainage systems has, in their assessment, contributed to the flooding.

"While this may be part of the problem, I have asked what powers the department has to ensure landowners take action to prevent excessive run off onto publicly owned roads and residential properties.

“More than 30 residents in Greysteel alone have signed a letter calling on the department to save their homes. We support those residents and will be arranging further site meetings in the coming weeks with the local roads team to ensure that actions are being progressed in key flooding areas.”