NEWCASTLE councillor Carmel O’Boyle (SDLP) has met with senior DOE planners to discuss the application by the Oaklee Housing Association to erect social housing on the site of the old Newcastle SERC campus in Donard Street.
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The old college site in Donard Street in Newcastle where a proposal for social housing has been drafted up by Oaklee Hoasing Association and is being contested by politicians and residents.[/caption]
She said: “When the Roads Service was first consulted about this application they submitted a roads’ report to planners that was over six years old and did not reflect the present road configuration at the Donard Street end of Newcastle.
The old college site in Donard Street in Newcastle where a proposal for social housing has been drafted up by Oaklee Hoasing Association and is being contested by politicians and residents.[/caption]
She said: “When the Roads Service was first consulted about this application they submitted a roads’ report to planners that was over six years old and did not reflect the present road configuration at the Donard Street end of Newcastle.
“When this was challenged and a delegation met with Minister Attwood, he ordered that a new report should be provided.
“Since this meeting, Roads Service have found another report that was apparently written a year ago. Why this report was not submitted in the first instance remains a matter of conjecture. I will certainly be asking for an explanation for this.
“In the meantime, the planning service intend to revisit Oaklee’s planning application in the light of this newer information, albeit a year old this time. This application raises more questions that answers and we are a long way off drawing this matter to a conclusion,” added Councillor O’Boyle.
Local residents have said that this proposal is unsuitable as it overdevelops the site, is next to a busy taxi stance and licensed premises, and has limited parking spaces, and will also affect traffic flow particularly during the seasonal upsurge in traffic.
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