Storm causes serious disruption across the area
By Sarah Curran
STORM Kathleen wreaked havoc along the peninsula on Saturday causing roadblocks, flooding and high tides.
Battering across the coastline of Ards and North Down, Storm Kathleen caused widespread travel disruption, with fallen trees and debris blocking roads and crashing waves flooding coastal roads making them impassable.
With a yellow weather warning in place throughout Saturday, lasting from 8am until 10pm, the Met Office of possible travel disruption, power cuts and a risk of injuries from large waves.
Some of the strongest winds were recorded in County Down, reaching nearly 70mph in the most exposed parts of the region.
The PSNI warned motorists to take care throughout the day following reports of flooding, fallen trees and further high winds.
In Ballybeen in Dundonald, one motorist had a lucky escape after their car was hit by a fallen tree during the storm. While no one was injured during the incident, the car suffered substantial damage.
Elsewhere, a number of roads became impassable during the day due to fallen trees, downed powerlines and flooding, including the Comber Road in Killyleagh, Portaferry Road in Newtownards, Saintfield Road in Carryduff and Old Holywood Road in Holywood.
Flooding and crashing waves along the Portaferry Road caused major disruption during the storm, causing ‘dangerous driving conditions’.
The PSNI advised motorists to plan alternate routes for their journeys, with some stretches of the Portaferry Road being closed off, including between Spring Lane, Greyabbey to Newtownards and between Old Shore Road and Mountstewart Road.
Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked during the storm, to help the drivers of vehicles stranded in flood water on the Portaferry Road.
They were able to remove a vehicle blocking the road in the area to allow an emergency ambulance travelling with an ill child needing hospital care safe passage.
The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs warned the public to avoid visiting affected forests, country parks and nature reserves until the high winds subsided.
While the weather warning had ended before the beginning of Sunday, some businesses on Portaferry shore front were forced to close their doors when high tides caused much of the coastal road to flood.
Passengers using the Strangford Ferry were also warned that the service would be temporarily suspended due to the high tide, with Strangford also facing floods along their coastal roads.
Ards and North Down alderman Robert Adair noted the frequency of storms in the area in recent times.
“We seem to be getting one every other month,” he said, adding his thanks to the emergency services who helped clear the roads after Storm Kathleen.
“Thankfully it wasn’t as bad as some of the storms we have seen but nonetheless there was some damage to the disability access to Portavogie beach, flooding to Greyabbey football pitch and flooding to our roads.
“I think this underlines that we need investment to our coastal defence to protect and preserve our coastal communities on the Ards peninsula.”
He added: “I want to praise the community resilience and those who worked throughout the storm to keep us all safe – it was very much appreciated.
“We are seeing a better joined up approach from the government in getting the information out to people.”
Mr Adair added his concerns at motorists who ‘took their life in their own hands’ and drove along the Portaferry Road despite weather warnings and police warnings.
“There should be more self-awareness and responsibility, that if you look out your door and see how bad the weather is you shouldn’t be going out on that Portaferry Road and taking chances and taking videos to put on social media,” he said.
“Some of those videos are very cringe worthy and shows how very real of a danger these storms are. They are putting their own lives in danger and the lives of others and they are putting people who need to be out in that weather at risk.”