Call for remediation work at Creggan reservoirs

Sinéad McLaughlin MLA has tabled a priority written question to the Interim Minister for Communities Carál Ní Chuilín: ‘To ask the minister if her department will meet the estimated £1m cost of remediation work on Creggan Reservoirs to enable proposed developments on the Fort George site in Derry to progress.’

Ms. McLaughlin said that it was essential to make much faster progress on the Fort George site, which has been largely vacant for over a decade. “We have proposals on hold that are key to the economic transformation of Derry,” she said. “At present proposals cannot proceed because of the assessed risk of flooding from Creggan Reservoirs.

“While the risk is regarded as low, it would be irresponsible to simply ignore the risk, or build without addressing the risk. The truth is that climate change has increased flooding risk and this has to be recognised, taken seriously and in this case resolved urgently.

“Given the importance of the Fort George site - which is under the ownership and control of the Department for Communities - it makes sense that the Department for Communities meet the costs of the remediation work in order to advance economic progress in Derry and bringing into full use one of the sites in Derry that was intended to be transformational for the city, yet which has lain under-used for far too many years.”

Creggan Reservoir is owned by the local Council and is leased to a voluntary group.