Write a comment
The worst flood in living memory in Newry look set to stay around for some time. In the early 1970's Sugar Island was hit by severe floods but even at that time no one can remember Merchants Quay flooding as well*. Today's Halloween horror will be remembered for years to come.
Almost all of the businesses in Sugar Island, Canal Quay, Sugarhouse Quay, Merchants Quay and Basin Walk have had their premises flooded and equipment and stock damaged beyond repair. Staff from McCartan's in Sugar Island gained access by breaking a side window to find a scene of utter devastation, with suits and footwear submerged in the flood water. Friar Tucks and Prestons Flowers as well as many other businesses in the locality had the same story to tell with a clean up that could take weeks.
At around 7.30 yesterday morning, 30 October, following a heavy night of incessant rain the Clanrye River had risen sufficiently to flow into Newry Canal at several points along the towpath past WIN Business Park. This is a reversal of what usually happens as the river normally is far below the level of the canal and any rain overflow from the Canal flows down a weir into the Clanrye. Over the course of the day the extra water in the canal rose to a level where it overflowed at Canal Quay and Sugarhouse Quay at around 7pm last night. Initially it was slow moving, just affecting those streets but the addition of a high tide just after midnight forced the water down Basin Quay and Basin Walk from where it very quickly saturated the entire car park and travelled on to flood Sugar Island from both directions.
Around 7.30 this morning, sandbags that were placed close to the pedestrian crossing in Sugar Island lost the battle to contain the water and it flowed down Merchants Quay almost to Bellinis. ** Over the course of the day despite the high tide water levels have remained fairly steady both in the Clanrye at Newry Town Hall and on the surrounding streets but later this afternoon, water levels on Merchants Quay have risen slightly and Catherine Street and Monaghan Street have begun to spot flood in places. From early this morning Newry has been spared any more heavy rain with just a few light showers.
One question that has been asked frequently since last night is "why did the Council not open the lock gates" to let water out when the tide was low. We asked the Council if they opened the lock gates at Victoria Lock this morning and if not why not. In their reply they said "Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is coordinating the operation of the sluice gates at Victoria Lock in line with Rivers Agency advice and have been doing so throughout Monday night and will continue to do so throughout this emergency situation. The sluice gates are located within the lock infrastructure and are operated independently of the actual Lock gates.”
* Addition: 10.30pm 31/10/23 - One resident remembers the flood of 1973 and said that Merchants Quay was flooded also.
** The collapse of a substantial portion of the Clanrye River Wall also would have contributed to the flooding on Merchants Quay.
