‘Shocking’ flood risk grant system for Creggan reservoir criticised by Martina Anderson

This is seen as vital towards achieving planning permission for much-needed development in the council area.

The Foyle MLA said: “Some support needs to be given to the council for it to take forward the work that needs to be done on the reservoir to fulfil what was put in place by the assessment about the problems that it could cause. It may not be catastrophic – in fact, not catastrophic – but problematic enough to prevent development.”

Mark Stranaghan, head of flooding and draining policy, spoke about a grant programme becoming available, but added that the earliest it could kick in would be January 2022. Ms. Anderson said it was ‘shocking’ it would take so long for a grant system to be put in place given that applications have been made.

“I do not think that the council in Derry, and I assume other councils that would apply for the grant, can wait until January 2022. It is impacting the potential development of Magee and of Derry. We need a grant system for councils that are strapped and unable to take that work forward. The Finance Minister recently gave councils £10 million to help with their operational running costs and all the other functions that they need to do during COVID.

“It is not that councils need to understand their obligations. Councils are acutely aware of those obligations but do not have the finances unless we come up with a cocktail of funding,” she said.