By Violet Brown
THE cost of repairing the infrastructure on the Ards Peninsula after the devastation caused by Storm Bram is expected to be four times higher than originally thought.
Coupled with the bill facing many home and business owners, it is believed Storm Bram could be one of the most destructive storms to have hit the area in many years.
Bram hit the peninsula on December 9 causing power cuts and bringing down many trees. However, the huge tidal surges which accompanied the storm breached the sea wall on the main road between Newtownards and Portaferry in a number of places which in itself is likely to cost in excess of £350,000 to repair.
Coastal defences from Ballywalter to Portaferry were seriously tested and parts of the sea wall on the Lough Shore Road, outside Portaferry, were completely destroyed.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is still assessing the damage to the sea defences on the peninsula and is concentrating on shoring up those defences in case the province is hit by another major storm before the end of winter.
More extensive repairs will be carried out in due course and there have also been calls for sea defences on the peninsula to be reinforced in the face of more severe storms and higher tidal surges.
Strangford MP Jim Shannon said initial estimates of the cost of the damage now appear to be significantly less than the actual bill facing Stormont departments and private individuals.
“The Department for Infrastructure (DFI) Roads is still assessing the full extent of the damage, and it is expected to take some time before all permanent repairs are completed and the final cost is known” he said.
“The damage is more extensive than believed at the time, and I know first hand that many homes and businesses are currently going through the immensely stressful job of claiming through insurances where possible”, Mr Shannon said.
For many, he added, the insurance process was time consuming and not worth it unless the sums were large. “The damage of this storm has meant that those who wouldn’t usually submit a claim, are having to do so to prevent further problems down the road”, Mr Shannon continued.
“Roads Service are finding the same issue and are having to do work to shore up defences for another battering storm”, he said.
“It is clear the costs to the public purse and to private individuals for this storm clean up and repair will be extensive”.
A DfI spokeswoman said during Storm Bram a number of coastal roads, including on the Ards peninsula, were closed for safety reasons due to waves and debris on carriageways.
“In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the department acted quickly carrying out a preliminary survey of the damage on the peninsula and completed essential emergency safety repairs” she said.
“Further, more detailed surveys and additional repairs will be required going forward and it will be sometime before the true impact and cost of the storm will be known”.
