Community highlights 'exclusion' from Egllinton flood alleviation plans

The Environmental Gathering organisation has expressed disappointment its community representatives and its members in Eglinton were not invited to join Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins as she toured Muff Glen.

The Gathering is an “open collective of individuals, communities, grass-roots campaign groups and activists who are campaigning to protect the Rights of Nature and Communities”.

Minister Kimmins was visiting a new project designed to reduce flooding events in the village on Thursday, November 13.
She was welcomed to Muff Glen and was shown the ten newly constructed ‘Leaky Dams’. Leaky Dams’ are nature-based management measures designed to reduce flooding.

See more of Minister Kimmins’ visit to Muff Glen Forest Park, Eglinton to see the nature-based flood management solutions which have been installed as a pilot to help address flood risk in the area.

Speaking from Eglinton, the Minister said:

“I remain committed to progressing… pic.twitter.com/CLOrDsvz7w

— Department for Infrastructure (@deptinfra) November 17, 2025

Eglinton has experienced two severe flooding events in recent years - one in 2017 when rivers burst their banks, and in 2022 due to surface water flooding.

According to The Gathering, Rivers Agency estimated the cost of the two month construction project in Muff Glen to have been between £40,000 and £50,000, whereas the estimated budget on the outline business plan to alleviate flooding in Eglinton was £25 million.

Eglinton community hall worker, Debbie Caulfield said: “Community representatives were disappointed we were not invited to join the Minister's tour of Muff Glen.

“Three weeks ago, there was a consultation in the Foyle Arena, initiated by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, to discuss flood alleviation plans for Eglinton. However, the maps presented at the Foyle Arena consultation were not made available to the public, despite repeated requests to the Department for Infrastructure.

“This is a frustrating situation. I would like to enable more people in Eglinton to engage actively in plans being made for the village, rather than having to wait until 2027 when the Department for Infrastructure’s business plan has been completed. The Department plans to engage with the community in 2027 and not before,” said Ms Caulfield.

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Members of The Gathering have joined Ms Caulfield in her efforts to highlight her concerns over DfI's “lack of early and transparent community consultation directly to the Minister in Muff Glen”.

Ms Caulfield explained: “The Department for Infrastructure’s reluctance to engage in meaningful, early consultation with the community in important environmental decision making is disappointing.”

A Spokesperson for Department for Infrastructure said: “The Minister recently visited Muff Glen Forest Park in Eglinton to see the work being progressed by DFI Rivers on a pilot to test the concept of ‘leaky dams’ as a natural flood mitigation measure.

“As the scheme is a pilot, this was an internal site visit. The insights gained from this pilot will also provide key information to inform the future use of these natural flood management techniques for other flood risk areas across the North.

“The Minister remains committed to progressing practical flood alleviation for Eglinton, Drumahoe and Ivy Mead areas. Feasibility studies have identified potential solutions, and
the next step is to develop a business case.

“Following this the Department intends to furtjer engage with local community to help us inform the design process.”