Ritchie Says Private Roads In Estates Need To Be Finished

She said,”Over the last number of months, I have visited many private estates in various parts of South Down.  On many occasions, residents in places such as Downpatrick and Kilkeel have told me that they are frustrated with having to endure unfinished roads, footpaths and the lack of proper street lighting. “As the roads infrastructure has not been completed by the developer due to the economic downturn, Roads Service has so far not offered any assistance to the residents or the developers to address this situation.  In such circumstances, Roads Service has refused to adopt such roads within private housing estate. “A more radical approach is now required to be implemented by the Minister for Regional Development to accommodate the urgent and pressing needs of residents in these estates, and the developers who are facing acute financial difficulties in the current challenging economic situation. “There is now a clear need for the Minister for Regional Development to intervene, to spearhead a group of senior Roads Service officials to work out and implement a plan which recognizes the problems faced by residents who are paying high mortgages and rates for their properties, and in many cases the insurmountable economic difficulties faced by those in the construction industry who have had to endure the inability to complete the housing schemes and the challenges posed by the banking sector who have refused credit facilities to them,” she added.]]>