Kennedy announces £2.6million investment in essential sewer improvement schemes for Downpatrick

18 October 2013 10:46

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has announced that NI Water will be starting essential improvements to the sewerage infrastructure in Downpatrick.

Work will begin in the Market Street and Hunters Mill areas of the town in November 2013.

These essential improvement schemes represent a total investment of approximately £2.6million and will continue until spring 2015.

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy said: “These improvement schemes are good news for the local area as they will reduce the risk of out of sewer flooding, meet the needs of future development in the area and will help meet Northern Ireland Environment Agency Standards.”

Sara Venning interim Chief Executive, NI Water, added: “The first phase of the Market Street Pumping Station Project was completed in 2010 in advance of the Environmental Improvement Scheme carried out by Down District Council. This involved the installation of a trunk sewer between the existing and proposed pumping station plus associated works. We are now pleased to announce the second phase of the scheme, which represents an investment of approximately £1.6million.

“The second improvement project at Hunter’s Mill will run alongside the Market Street scheme and represents an investment of approximately £1million. Both schemes will greatly improve the sewerage infrastructure in the area and improve water quality in local watercourses.”

The improvements at Market Street will involve the following:

• Construction of a new pumping station/storm retention tank in an area of the car park behind the Grove Shopping Centre.
• Laying of a new foul pumping main from the new pumping station to Russells Park Pumping Station (located in Dunleath Park).
• Laying of a new storm pumping main to the River Quoile (via the car park access road, through the Down Historical Railway grounds and across the fields to the river).
• Final sewer upgrades and connections in Market Street to route flows to the new pumping station.
• Demolition of the existing Market Street pumping station.

The Hunters Mill Project, which will also get underway in November, will provide extra stormwater storage, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and will reduce the risk of out of sewer flooding in the area.

The scheme will provide the following improvements:

• Construction of a new stormwater storage tank in the existing open ground near Thomas Russell Park.
• Laying of new sewers in the open ground between Hunters Mill and Thomas Russell Park.
• Provision of a new screened overflow.
• Sewer upgrades in Stream Street.

During construction a temporary construction road will be constructed via the playing fields in order to minimise any inconvenience to the residents of Thomas Russell Park.

There will be associated traffic and pedestrian restrictions required to allow the works to be completed in a safe environment. This will include lane and road closures in the area at certain times. However, signage will be in place and the public will be made aware in advance of any restrictions.

As with all work of this nature, there will be an element of disruption and NI Water would like to thank the public and local businesses in advance for their patience and cooperation, and assure them that we will do everything we can to complete the work as quickly as possible with minimum disruption.

Customer queries regarding this work should be directed to Waterline on 08457 440088.