A public meeting is to be held in Coalisland this week to discuss long-term solutions to repeat flooding in the area.
The meeting has been organised by independent republican councillor Dan Kerr in the aftermath of weekend flooding as a result of Storm Bert.
It will be held at 7pm on Wednesday in the Coalisland Community Hub and residents affected by the floods have been invited.
Councillor Kerr says he has spoken to residents in badly-affected areas of Coalisland who are “frustrated and worried” around what has happened.
In a post on Facebook on Sunday he said that several residents close to Coalisland Canal and Kings Row have endured water damage to the insides of their homes.
Most roads coming into the village also experienced heavy flooding.
Said Councillor Kerr: “I spoke with residents in Kings Row and residents living adjacent to the Coalisland Canal, residents explained they are frustrated and worried about what they have experienced this previous 24 hours.
“I equally share these feelings and will be requesting the Council like previous gets every statuary agency responsible around the table and finally get to the bottom of the flooding and come up with long term solutions.
“In the future if a storm is predicted a contingency plan needs to be put in place to minimise/eliminate what we witnessed yesterday from ever happening again.
“The residents of Coalisland and Clonoe deserve better.”
This sentiment was echoed by SDLP Councillor Malachy Quinn, who said flood solutions were needed in the area.
He said: “Following on from yesterday’s floods that has destroyed homes and livelihoods of people in the town. Once again, residents in Kings Row have been forced from their homes, some forced to go outside Mid-Ulster to find accommodation.
“We have homes by Coalisland Canal flooded out, and again, not for the first time.
“I’m calling on the DfI and the Minister O’Dowd to give the residents a permanent solution. We need more than words. £1,000 payment isn’t going to come close to replacing what people have lost. They need more and deserve more.”
He added: “I’ll be calling for the council to ask for an emergency meeting with DfI. For them to blame this on freak weather is not acceptable.
“I’ve asked Patsy McGlone to write to the Minister to ask what solutions he will be pursuing and what money his department can make available to those residents affected by yesterday’s weather.
“Our local residents deserve more than lip service from the Stormont government. I hope that the Minister will make a point to visit those residents affected asap.”
