§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Taper Length river at Mill lane, Ballycarry, county Antrim, became a designated watercourse; for how long maintenance work thereon has been the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture (drainage division) Northern Ireland; what maintenance has been carried out during each of the last four years to this watercourse; if he plans to de-designate this watercourse; and what further maintenance-remedial work is planned for the Taper Length watercourse.
§ Mr. ViggersThe Redhall burn and Redhall branch drain (part of which is known historically as the Taper Length) were designated as minor watercourses by the Northern Ireland Drainage Council on 15 April 1969 and from that date the Department of Agriculture was responsible for deciding on the need for maintenance work.
No maintenance work has been carried out in the last 4 years.
The Drainage Council de-designated the watercourses on 7 November 1988 and from that date maintenance became the responsibility of the riparian landowners. The Department can therefore have no plans for further maintenance.