Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received any representations about flooding in the vicinity of 79 to 106 Newtownbreda road in the borough of Castlereagh on 10 July; if there has been any previous concern expressed about the inadequacy of the storm drainage in the roadway at this location; and if he has any proposals to improve the existing drainage system.
§ Mr. Needham[pursuant to his reply, 16 July 1987]: The Department of Environment (Northern Ireland) received telephone complaints about flooding in the vicinity of 79–106 Newtownbreda road at 1745 and from 1800 hours onwards on 10 July 1987.
The site in the area of 79–106 Newtownbreda road is in a hollow with three gullies on one side of the road and two 169W on the other. The water service investigation revealed that all their manhole installations were intact and that the sewerage system was not at fault.
The roads service investigation found that exceptional rainfall on 10 July 1987 over a short period had washed debris into and interfered with the road drainage system. However the flooding had subsided when roads service staff reached the site. The road gullies were cleared and further work to ensure free drainage was undertaken on the following day. The system is also being checked for any further defects.