News

Flood wall costing £232,000 being built beside Clonoe homes

The new flood wall near Coalisland, and inset, how The Irish News reported on concerns over a new housing development
The new flood wall near Coalisland, and inset, how The Irish News reported on concerns over a new housing development The new flood wall near Coalisland, and inset, how The Irish News reported on concerns over a new housing development

A FLOOD wall costing the public £232,000 is being constructed in Co Tyrone near a controversial housing development with a 'moat and bridge' that is facing enforcement action.

Work on the concrete barrier – which is longer than a football pitch – began near Coalisland in January and is due to be completed by the summer.

The scheme aims to reduce the flood risk to eight homes at Dernmore Drive in Clonoe, which alongside other houses in the area have suffered flooding in the past.

The properties are beside Moor Park, a new 30-house development surrounded on two sides by a water trench and accessed via a bridge.

Planners are pursuing enforcement proceedings over concerns that not all the flood-prevention measures required as part of the housing development's planning approval have been completed.

However, Stormont officials insist the decision to create a new flood barrier has no connection to Moor Park.

Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill was among those who expressed concerns about the housing development.

In a letter in 2008, she warned it could "further enhance an already severe problem with flooding in the area".

The plans were eventually approved in 2014 with a series of measures aimed at reducing the flood risk to neighbouring land and property.

The developer Western Buildings Systems has previously insisted the site is not a flood risk, saying it is awaiting approvals from roads officials to finish upgrading a culvert at Moor Road.

The new sheet-pile flood wall is almost 140 yards long and includes a concrete capping beam. A section of Dernmore Lane will also be raised and realigned as part of the scheme.

Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said the works do not require planning approval because consent is given by the Drainage Council.

A spokeswoman said the works were advertised September 2016 and approved by the Drainage Council in December of that year.

"The works are located at the rear of Dernmore Drive immediately upstream of Dernmore lane and the Moor Road developments. These works do not relate to planning approval of Moor Park," a spokeswoman said.

"The works will provide a flood wall running along the boundary between Dernmore Drive and the adjacent fields, around the Northern Ireland Water pumping station.

"The proposed flood wall is designed to reduce the risk of flooding from land adjacent to the Canal Back Extension and the Mill Race watercourses."

On Moor Park, the spokeswoman said one of three culverts relating to the housing development was granted approval in principle in November.

"The department is still awaiting the developer to conclude the approval process and will continue to work closely with his design team," she said.

"Once technical approval of the first culvert has been granted, this should assist progression of the other culverts."

Mid Ulster council confirmed an enforcement probe is continuing.

"An enforcement case regarding Moor Road remains under investigation, and the council has issued court proceedings in respect of non-compliance with the breach of condition notice," a spokeswoman said.

"The case is scheduled to come before the courts again on the February 12 2018."