The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Rivers Agency

Burren River Flood Alleviation Scheme, Newcastle, Co. Down

Environmental Statement

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development hereby gives notice in pursuance of Article 12C of the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 (as amended by the Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 that it has prepared an Environmental Statement for the Burren River Flood Alleviation Scheme at Newcastle, Co. Down. The scheme will consist of a series of flood defence structures to both sides of the Burren River, from its confluence with the Shimna River to the bend adjacent to the Burrendale Hotel on the Castlewellan Road. Also incorporated into the scheme are a number of environmental measures, such as noise level control, water quality monitoring, fishery mitigation and enhancement works and visual retention through landscaping of floodbanks and stone facing of floodwalls.

The statement and details of the works may be inspected, free of charge, during normal office hours throughout the period Friday, 14th February, 2003 to Friday, 14th March, 2003 inclusive at the following locations:

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rivers Agency, Lisburn Regional Office, Ravarnet Office, Altona Road, Lisburn, BT27 5QB.

Down District Council, 24 Strangford Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6SR.

Newcastle Centre, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle, BT33 0AA.

In accordance with Article 12C of the Order any person wishing to make representations in relation to the likely environmental effects of the scheme should do so by writing to:

Alan Reddick BSc, MBA, CEng, MICE, Project Co-ordinator, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rivers Agency, Hydebank, 4 Hospital Road, Belfast BT8 8JJ.

The closing date for the receipt of representations to the Department is 14th March, 2003.

Copies of the Environmental Statement can be made available at a price of £50.00 per set, or the Non-Technical Summary at a price of £15.00, by application to Rivers Agency at the above address.