NEWRY FLOOD: Many businesses 'will not recover without financial assistance'

Since the news of flooding emerged the BID team has been working side by side with businesses, sourcing more than 1,700 sandbags, waders, dehumidifiers, water vacuums, skips and tractors to help aid the recovery.

Since Thursday its clean team has been on the ground starting to power wash and support with the street cleaning.

BID is also assisting with temporary relocation options and will be supporting members with applications to the LPS Hardship Fund. It will also be delivering a Shop Local campaign to support recovery in the run up to Christmas.

The BID’s PSNI City Beats team has been on the ground also protecting business premises.

BID hosted the first meeting of businesses to work through the lobby plan for support to aid with the recovery. This was hosted in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry and was attended by more than 100 business owners, managers, and staff.

Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID said, “We were overwhelmed by the response to our emergency meeting [on Thursday night].

"Businesses were able to come together, put their thoughts and concerns to the room and all this information was captured. It will be presented in a report in the coming days.

“We have also issued a survey to affected members to help quantify the damage and we hope that all businesses will complete this. This will allow us to go to local and central government with clear data driven evidence of the need for financial support and assistance.

“We urge all businesses to document the clean up process, so they have photos, videos, and written evidence in relation to the impact and the damage. This may be required to present to loss assessors.”

Eamonn continued, “Over the coming days and weeks we will continue to assist how we can on the ground, with practical support for our members.

"We will also be working on gathering the data from the survey and the meeting to compile Newry BID members’ case for financial assistance.

"We will be lobbying the relevant authorities to meet with us to present these findings to them and see how our city centre can be supported to get back up and running.

“This was a devastating blow at the very start of the season that many businesses rely on to survive and thrive.

"We are a city known for our resilience, but our businesses cannot do this alone. We need help to rebuild livelihoods and businesses and we urge those in power in the place where a Government should be, to support our community now when we need it most. Many of our businesses will not recover from this without financial assistance.”

If you are an affected Newry BID member and you have not yet completed the survey, please click on the link to access Newry BID Flood Damage Survey or contact Newry BID office.