Residents ‘living in daily fear of flooding’

APPARENT faults in the Ballycolman sewage system are leaving residents in daily fear of flooding, according to a local councillor.

In March this year the Strabane Chronicle revealed that 232 complaints had been lodged with the NI Water about sewage problems in the Ballycolman since 2006.

Since last week however residents have had to deploy sandbags again in response to water pumping from a manhole close to a local pumping station.

SDLP councillor Patsy Kelly this week criticised NI Water, claiming that residents are now living in daily fear that heavy rainfall will lead to flooding on the estate.

“Millions of pounds has been spent on the setting up and subsequent upgrading of this pumping station and people expect better service from NI Water than this.

“This problem has been going on for a week, with water supposed to be pumped into the station coming out through an NI Water-owned manhole nearby.