Gallons of diesel 'leaking into Strangford Lough'

Gallons of diesel are said to be leaking into the sea at Strangford Lough, one of Northern Ireland’s richest wildlife hotspots.

Alliance Strangford candidate Kellie Armstrong has called for immediate action to stop environmental damage following the sinking of a boat moored in Portaferry.

She said the leisure ship crashed into the Ards and North Down Council-owned Cook Street Quay some time ago and although several attempts have been made to repair it, it has been moored at the site ever since.

Ms Armstrong said she has contacted several agencies after gallons of diesel from the boat began to leak into Strangford Lough. but to no avail.

“Strangford Lough is environmentally sensitive, so I have asked the Council a number of times to raise my concerns but no action has been taken,” she said.

“The Northern Ireland Environmental Agency have pledged to check the scene but we are still waiting for that to take place.

“This has the potential to damage the specific and important Strangford Lough environment, and therefore I ask all relevant agencies treat this as an urgent case.

“I also call upon the council to review their policy of allowing boats not in a fit state to be moored for so long at their quays. This environmental damage could have been averted if agencies had acted much more quickly to get the owner to repair and make the vessel seaworthy.”