WHILE many questions remain to be answered about the flooding of the new £120m Broadway underpass at the weekend, the response of the Ministers in the powersharing Executive has given some solace to homeowners caught up in the unseasonal deluge.

Special praise must go to Environment Minister Sammy Wilson who convened an emergency meeting of the relevant agencies and departments at Stormont – on the Sabbath – and confirmed funds would be made available to aid householders affected by the flooding.

The DoE minister then travelled with Sinn Féin ministerial colleague Conor Murphy to view the Broadway debacle.

From there, the DUP man, accompanied by Lord Mayor Tom Hartley, toured homes in Beechmount, which, with Glenhill Park and St James’, bore the brunt of the floods. 

Wading through the mucky aftermath of the  Clowney overspill, Minister Wilson gave much-appreciated sympathy and pledges of practical assistance.

The verdict from grateful local community groups was that the hands-on approach to the flooding from Minister Wilson had ensured a more effective response from the Council and departmental officials tasked with the clear-up work. 

For former schoolteacher-turned-minister  Sammy Wilson, it’s a case of full marks and a place at the top of the class.   The challenge now, however, for him and his ministerial colleagues is to ensure the flooding doesn’t recur.