Sandbag storage scheme planned

Due to be discussed at Council’s August meeting, the sandbag store scheme is the brainchild of Rivers Agency.

It will involve the siting of sandbag stores, stocked with filled sandbags, in areas known to be at risk of out-of-river flooding; providing rapid access to sandbags by local residents to protect their homes.

Council staff met with DARD Rivers Agency in February to discuss the potential for such a pilot scheme which will be community led.

It will involve the initial placement of two sandbag stores on Council property in known flood risk areas, namely at both Ahoghill and Broughshane Community Centres.

Those areas were identified for the scheme on the basis of historical flood information and payment of hardship grants to local residents.