Car dumped in River Lagan needs to be addressed, says Robbie Butler

A car dumped in the River Lagan decades ago is a “matter that should be addressed once and for all”, assembly member Robbie Butler has said.

The Lagan Valley politician made the comments following renewed calls for the removal of the rotten and rusted vehicle from the river near Lisburn.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which is responsible for managing the flood risk from rivers, confirmed the car had been “present in the river for decades”.

It added the vehicle was “not currently considered to have a significant impact on drainage or flood risk”, so it had no plans to remove it.

Butler said removing the car “could be counterproductive” and that “experts in water-based nature and conservation should be the authority in making that case”.

However, the Ulster Unionist politician said he was worried by the wider neglect of the river.

“Of greater concern is the lack of native fish, the lack of leisure opportunities and the absence of long-term investment in what should be the jewel of the Lagan Valley’s natural environment,” he said.