“In Belfast it feels like our response to blocked drains and gullies is haphazard and scattergun”
Belfast City Council is to look at a drainage pilot in the city based on a Dublin model to fight against the increasing threat of flooding.
At the May meeting of the full council at City Hall, the chamber agreed to a Green party proposal, seconded by Sinn Féin, looking at preparation for a pilot in Belfast, focusing on known flood-prone areas. A report will be returned to the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.
In March Belfast Council agreed to write to the Minister for Infrastructure at Stormont to seek clarification on winter preparedness in the city, specifically drainage and gully management, in light of the sustained and prolonged rainfall across Northern Ireland. The council also requested urgent clearance of all drains.
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Last October a number of roads across Belfast were made impassable by flash flooding following heavy rain. Key routes and shopping areas such as Lisburn Road, Boucher Road, Ormeau Road and Botanic Avenue were affected, with traffic coming to a standstill, and residents and businesses suffering for weeks afterwards. Widespread calls were made for the changes to be made to the city’s neglected drainage infrastructure.
The Minister responded, stating DfI had identified a number of problem drainage sites with external contractors, and added the department was working through a programme of remedial works to address the issues raised by the council. DfI said Belfast City Centre gullies would receive additional cleaning as part of the next drainage maintenance programme from April 2026.
At the council meeting this week, the chamber ratified a proposal forwarded by Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth noting the “Smart Gully” monitoring innovation project in Dublin. The chamber agreed that council officers would work with the Department for Infrastructure to “gather learning” from Dublin, with the intention of using the information to scope a pilot in Belfast.
The pilot will focus on known flood-prone areas in Belfast, with a view to “improving drainage response and reducing surface water flooding.” It will also potentially involve a council contract removing weeds in alleyways.
Councillor Smyth said at the meeting on Tuesday: “In Dublin they are using a smart drainage approach which uses low-cost sensors in gullies to monitor water levels in real time in flagged locations that are blocked or close to flooding. The system was developed through a Smart Dublin challenge with Dublin City Council and Enterprise Ireland, and it is designed to respond faster and target maintenance and resources where they are most needed.
“In Belfast it feels like our response to blocked drains and gullies is haphazard and scattergun. It is often either elected reps such as councillors being contacted, or people contacted the flooding hotline. We all know areas that are prone to flooding. I would highlight Rosetta Road and large parts of the Cregagh Estate in my District Electoral Area.”
He said: “How the (Dublin system) works in practice is the sensors send data to a dashboard, so that staff can see which gullies are clear, blocked or at risk. Dublin has deployed bespoke monitors and sensors in targeted areas, and the purpose is to use limited maintenance and resources more effectively while reducing surface water flooding and the disruption that comes with this in communities.
“In Belfast this shouldn’t be seen as a Tech project, it should be seen as a proper tool. A pilot I hope can focus on a small number of known flood hotspots, and DfI and Belfast City Council can agree thresholds for alert and response arrangements, and how that data would fit in with existing drainage maintenance systems.”
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