Fermanagh poultry farmers ‘always on edge’ at flooding risk

Wilson Poultry Limited based between Lisnaskea and Brookeborough has been subject to flash flooding ordeals since their hen houses were built in 2008.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Trevor Wilson said: "On Sunday morning at about 5.45am, we rang the fire brigade (Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service) and rang a contractor to pump it. It is becoming very common now for us.

Wilson Poultry Limited

"The last time we had the fire brigade was on the second Thursday of September last year and we flooded again on December 11 last year and used a contractor to pump out the water."

Trevor added: "We would call on Barry Reid, the contractor fairly regularly, when the fire brigade come, they are able to hold the water but Barry is able to drop the water [levels down, due to his equipment for contracting]."

The issues surrounding the flooding are long running, Trevor said: "Originally the planning department put us down there, we wanted the houses to be further up the field, we reapplied and that is where they put us, we put birds into the house in January 2008 and in August 2008 the fire brigade started coming [due to flooding]."

He continued: "Last September Road Service came out and agreed that they needed to sort out the drain under the road, up to now there has been one excuse after another. There is a 33 inch drain comes from the Tullyneevin Road, it comes to us and there is a 12 inch drain from our property and away and in that it has two 90 degree bends to go through. Road Service had agreed to run a drain straight across the road at an angle which would take a larger volume of water."

A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: "The Department is aware of a flooding issue at this location and is currently considering a number of options to determine if there is a feasible solution.”

Trevor added: "This is long-running and it seems to be becoming more common now, there was no damage this time. We have learned to ring the fire brigade sooner. We used to be hesitant in ringing the fire brigade but once the water is out of drain and into the field [adjacent to hen houses] by the time the fire brigade get there, the water will be in the hen houses, that is how quickly it rises."

Fortunately, no eggs were lost this year but it has happened in previous years as a result of flooding.

Trevor added: "You could go into the shed and six or seven thousand eggs could be lost, it doesn’t take that big an area to get lost, it has got in around the controls of the machine that packs eggs and five years ago the water got into the bird area and when that happens you’re into a bio-security risk as the water is coming in and there is a risk of disease."

The lack of progress means that the Wilsons are constantly worried about weather and how it might affect their business, Trevor said: "It is a pure nuisance all the time, we are always on edge for the weather[and what will happen], it leaves you tied all the time."