SDLP Leader and South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell has said there is growing anger and frustration among residents at the failure of Northern Ireland Water (NIW) to bring forward agreed protocols to protect residents from flash flooding.

Dr McDonnell said: "Conall McDevitt and I met with a Director of NIW on Friday of last week. We impressed on him the need for NIW to take immediate and urgent action to protect residents’ homes from flash flooding.

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"At this meeting we were given assurances that on Monday a protocol would be established for the provision and distribution of sandbags to residents. We were also given a commitment that NIW would put in place a protocol to ensure there was a clear and coordinated response with emergency services during periods of heavy rainfall.

"Despite my office making several phone calls to NIW this week, no clear details of either one of these protocols has emerged.

"Residents are left stranded again as a weekend of heavy rainfall and likely flash flooding looms large. This is not acceptable. NIW needs to answer questions and needs to answer them now. Residents can’t continue to live in the fear of flooding every time it rains."

(CD)