Clean up begins after freak floods
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Drumadoon Restauraunt near Cloughmills which was affected by the severe flooding that hit many areas across the Borough during last weekend’s prolonged rain.
AS THE residents of Ballymoney Borough come to terms with one of the heaviest rain falls in recent years, the people across Northern Ireland are still clearing up the mess left by numerous floods.
Many areas of the Borough were affected after the River Bann burst its banks. Dunloy, Rasharkin and Ballymoney were among the worst hit as rivers overflowed due to torrential rain.
At a meeting of Ballymoney Borough Council held on Monday August 18 Mayor DUP Councillor John Finlay said: "People have been severely affected. I haven't seen a down pour like that for many years. Many parts of the borough have been affected."
In the town Riverside Park was badly affected with silt covering the ground surrounding the river.
Alderman Frank Campbell said "Over the weekend people rang me to say said they couldn't get through to relevant numbers. Some old people were up to high doe trying to get in contact with people to get them to come and try and stop the water coming in round their houses. Some number should be set up even a council number to deal with problems of that sort. Is there a number people can contact?" He wanted to know.
As the skies darkened and the heavens opened on Saturday afternoon, Nigel Burns, proprietor of Drumadoon restaurant in Cloughmills was getting ready for a busy evening in the award winning eatery. Little did Nigel know that by the time he shut the doors on his last customer his restaurant would be under 6 inches of water and he would face a potential cost of thousands to replace carpets throughout the ground floor.
Nigel said: "Our last customer, celebrity chef Jenny Bristow and her party, left shortly after 10pm and our car park was dry. Shortly afterwards, a member of staff was leaving and noticed a puddle appearing in the car park. Within the next 10 or 15 minutes the car park seemed to fill with water and within a few more minutes the water had seeped in the door. By 10.30pm there was a river running through our restaurant, coming in one end of the building and out the other.
"The guest house had four residents staying that night who proved to be remarkable help in preserving antiques and valuables from being destroyed by the flood. Bill and Trishy Broadhurst from Glengormley were enjoying a romantic break at Drumadoon when they were woken from their slumbers and asked to move their car to higher ground. Bill a retired fire officer gave a helping hand as did David and Sue Mc Aleese from Tonbridge, Kent. Their untiring efforts are truly appreciated by the family.
“I rang the Roads Service but I couldn't get a reply. I then called the Rivers Agency, only for them to inform me that they had ran out of sand bags. I also called the fire brigade three times. Eventually Bill explained that there were guests staying at Drumadoon and they were in danger."
Ballymoney fire service arrived on site at approximately 4am on Sunday morning under the leadership of Michael Thompson. Taking command of the 'new lake' at the front of Drumadoon they pumped away what excess they could. By 8.30am on Sunday morning the water was reducing and by 9.45am the car park was clear.
Nigel added: "I called a local carpet cleaning company, Rainbow International, and they were here first thing the next morning. They were very good and came to our aid so quickly that we managed to open for lunch on Sunday."
