Planning applications for remedial work downstream of Silent Valley Reservoir and Ben Crom in the Mourne Mountains have stalled.

These applications were put forward after an inspection in 2018 identified improvements.

SDLP South Down Westminster Candidate, Cllr Michael Savage has called on NI Water to give details on the work.

Cllr Savage said: "Vague assurances from NI Water are not enough. They must give detailed indications of when this work will begin, which should be a matter of priority, and make the expected completion date known. When there is an urgent need for housing in areas such as Kilkeel, it is not acceptable that planning applications are being stalled. This delay will impact families and businesses across South Down and impact on much needed development in the nearby areas.

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"People will rightly be asking how government's left hand doesn't know what its right hand is doing. Unnecessary confusion about the implementation and interpretation of rules should be clarified by the Department for Infrastructure. A Minister should be at work prioritising this. Instead we've been left with drift and delay since the last infrastructure Minister, Chris Hazzard, left the post vacant almost three years ago."

He added: "I will be seeking a meeting with senior officials from NI Water to seek clarity, a timeline on next steps and continue to press for action on this matter."

(CM/JG)