Motion to urge council to fund ‘urgent’ wall and path repairs in Armagh

by
Micheal McKenna
December 12, 2015

Calls are being made for urgent action to deal with dangerous footpaths and a retaining wall in Armagh which has led to weeks of misery and inconvenience for local residents.

And, as nobody has been able to ascertain ownership and therefore who is responsible for having the work carried out, local politicians will lobby Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council to cover the costs in the interest of public safety.

Banbrook Hill, Armagh

The path services houses at Banbrook Hill and has been described as an “ongoing safety hazard that needs repaired urgently”.

A motion calling on council to pay for the work will go before a full monthly sitting at Craigavon Civic Centre on Monday night.

Local Sinn Fein MLA Cathal Boylan said residents had been seriously inconvenienced by the necessary closure of the path, which had now been cordoned off for more than six weeks.

“Unfortunately there have been some complex technical issues surrounding responsibility for carrying out the much needed repairs as no legal owner could be identified,” he explained.

“This has been an ongoing process and Sinn Féin representatives have been working to try and find a suitable resolution to this issue. Our representatives have met with council officials, engineers and DRD officials.

“Former Lord Mayor Cathy Rafferty had raised this issue at previous council meetings within the old council, indeed, has been trying to get Neighbourhood Renewal to commit to the much needed project.”

Armagh Councillor Garath Keating confirmed a motion was currently with the new council authority seeking its approval to intervene in the issue.

“Having been unable to identify any other relevant legal interest, we are now asking that council fund the necessary repairs to the retaining wall,” he said.

Mr Boylan, meanwhile, said local residents were exasperated with the length of time and “apparent lack of action” surrounding the broken wall and footpath.

He added: “This issue has dragged on long enough and residents are becoming extremely irate with the lack of access to their homes and we are determined to find a solution.”

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