SDLP Lisburn City Councillor Brian Heading has said that questions need to be asked about the scrutiny of private firms retained by the DoE and Roads Service to maintain streets and clean gullies, among other duties.

Cllr Heading was speaking after a community meeting regarding the fall-out from the recent floods, which have left some Dunmurry families facing a wait of up to a year to return to their homes.

He said: "The relevant government departments and agencies regularly retain private firms to undertake relevant maintenance in our streets, and this includes clearing drainage gullies and keeping drains clear.

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"However, it would appear that the floods in the area I represent were partly down to inadequate maintenance in these areas.

"The service agreements between the agencies and the companies need to be reviewed to ensure that the firms being retained are doing their job properly and that there are suitable penalty clauses when they do not.

"Families in Dunmurry have found themselves practically homeless for the next year and I am bound to say that, even leaving aside the adverse weather, proper drain maintenance may have alleviated some of the difficulties, though I will be enquiring as to the extent of the effect that such maintenance or lack thereof had during the floods."

(CD/GK)