Patsy McGlone 17th August 2010

McGlone welcomes Poots’ move on flood risk

SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone welcomed the decision by Environment Minister Edwin Poots to review planning policy for flood risk.

He said: “I am glad to see that the Minister is fully aware of the consequences of global warming which is a reality despite what some of his party colleagues profess to believe. Over the last few years we have had a series of extreme weather events leading to flooding, some of which had a serious impact on this constituency.

“There are a number of planning issues which have an impact on flooding. Obviously permitting building in flood plains was never a good idea. But we have also overdone drainage in some areas by speeding up watercourses and reduced opportunities for natural soakage which slows down flash floods.

“Given the experience of the last few years we need to take a better look at areas at risk of potential flooding and revise our ideas of what maximum rainfall might look like.”
 

ENDS