46,000 IN FLOOD DANGER; Launch of online map shows homes at risk.

Byline: BY TOM MCTAGUE

TENS of thousands of homes are in danger of being flooded by swollen rivers as climate change kicks in, ministers warned yesterday.

Around 46,000 homes across Northern Ireland lie dangerously close to flood plains - with nearly 14,000 in Greater Belfast alone.

And flooding expert John Clarke, of the Rivers Agency, revealed the vast majority of the affected homes had no protection at all.

Mr Clarke said only "a third estimated to be within the river and coastal flood plain are protected by flood defences".

Omagh and Antrim town centres were highlighted as two of the most at risk areas yesterday as ministers launched a new online flooding map.

Speaking at the launch of the interactive map Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew said she hoped it would help fight potentially--destructive future floods.

She said: "In recent times we have seen the damage which flooding can do and the major disruption and distress that it can cause.

"Flooding is a natural phenomenon and these experiences highlight the need for a better management of flood risk."

The Rivers Agency, which produced the flood map, said river flow will increase by a tenth and the sea will rise by about seven centimetres by 2030.

Mr Clarke said: "All of the Shore Road, the centre of Belfast and East Belfast, the predictive map shows those areas are within the flood plain."

A flood plain is a low-lying area around rivers and coastal areas.

In August, when the Westlink was swamped, a lifeboat was used to rescue stranded homeowners in Co Down and more than 1,500 properties were covered by hardship payments.

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson, who launched the new online map with Minister Gildernew, said new housing developments would have to start taking into account the risk of flooding.

He added: "Historically, many cities and towns in Northern Ireland have been built on flood plains and we have got to take account of that as we move forward in planning for the future.

"This is why, where new development proposals are submitted, it is essential developers provide proper and robust flood risk assessments and where appropriate identify necessary mitigation measures to be put in place."

But Michelle Gildernew said it was important to note many of the houses within a flood plain were still unlikely to be flooded.

She added: "Using the information available and by working together, Rivers Agency and other responsible bodies can help reduce the impact of flooding on people, property and the natural environment.

"People living or working in areas at flood risk can also take action to protect themselves.

"I hope they will arm themselves with the right information and take necessary precautions now and in the future."

The online flood map is the first step in a process which will ultimately help planners decide where to build houses.

Another assessment is being carried out on Belfast and eventually homeowners could be able to zoom into their own street.

The Google Earth-style internet map includes historical and predictive diagrams, incorporating the effect of climate change.

14,000

HOMES IN THE GREATER BELFAST AREA LIE CLOSE TO FLOOD PLAINS

RIVER

FLOW WILL INCREASE BY A TENTH BY 2030

1,500

PROPERTIES COVERED BY HARDSHIP PAYMENTS

PLAINS

FLOOD PLAINS ARE FOUND NEAR LAKES, THE COAST, RIVERS & LOW-LYING LAND

2030

BY THIS YEAR THE SEA WILL RISE BY SEVEN CENTIMETRES

We have seen the damage which flooding can do and the major disruption and distress it can cause

MS GILDERNEW

CAPTION(S):

POOL PLAN John Clarke yesterday at a flood briefing