THE SDLP’s Derry Assembly member Sinead McLaughlin has welcomed approval to serve a legal notice on the owners of stalled development properties at Dunfield Terrace in Derry.
The notice from Derry City and Strabane District Council will require the owners to either secure the site, or demolish the partially built properties.
If the owners do not take the required action, the council will initiate legal action against them.
The council also on Thursday agreed to convene a meeting of residents, council officers, local councillors and other stakeholders to discuss the situation.
A motion to this effect was proposed by SDLP councillor Sean Mooney.
Said the Foyle MLA: “SDLP representatives, including myself, have been engaged in tackling this issue for more than a year.
“At our request, council officials have repeatedly visited the site to check on security and assess the risk to the public.
“I am pleased that legal action to hopefully bring this matter to resolution is underway.
“We know that local residents have been plagued with anti social behaviour at this location, as well as having to look at an extremely ugly building site. It has been repeatedly vandalised and we fear for public safety.
“It is frustrating the legal restrictions have prevented the council taking earlier and more decisive action against a site that is both an eyesore and a danger.”
The approved motion to council reads: ‘Council understands the concerns of residents in Dunfield Terrace and surrounding streets in regards to the effects that a row of current unfinished houses is having on the area and will arrange a meeting between council officers, residents, Waterside Elected members and all other relevant stakeholders to further understand residents concerns and discuss the area plans for the future.’
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