19 March 2002
DRD MINISTER CONFIRMS PROGRESS ON FLOOD RELIEF MEASURES
Regional Development Minister, Peter Robinson, MP, MLA, today announced that considerable progress was being made on a programme of flood relief works currently underway.
The Minister said that in March 2001, the Department had managed to secure Executive Programme funds, to the total value of £5.5 million over three years, to enable interim measures to be carried out to alleviate flooding in Belfast and across the province.
He said: "I am delighted to confirm excellent progress on the work in its first year. Investment will total £1 million this year at 19 locations in the Belfast and surrounding area.
"The whole three year programme will include improvements at 77 locations. At 35 of these locations, 228 properties will benefit from improved protection against internal flooding and a further 290 properties will be protected against flooding in gardens and adjacent roads. Further benefits at the remaining 42 locations are still being quantified.
"This represents a significant benefit to the members of the public who live constantly with the threat of flooding."
The interim measures are being carried out ahead of a significant programme of improvements planned for the province’s aging sewerage systems, which are scheduled to start in 2006 at an estimated cost of more than £300 million.
For further information contact Clare Baxter on 028 9054 0068.
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