DfI accused of ignoring Springhill residents

RESIDENTS in the Spring Hill Park area of Strabane have accused the Department of Infrastructure of ignoring their pleas for assistance.

Brian McNamee, project co-ordinator at Springhill Park Area Residents and Youth Association, has said that, in his eyes, the Department has ‘refused to engage’ with residents over their concerns regarding vital repairs to walls, walkways and drains within the estate.

“Over the last three years we have been pushing the issue of the walls that are in major need of repair and a clean up throughout the estate, alongside taking a note of all issues that need fixing.

“Both Housing Executive and council have been more than accommodating with engaging and getting things done, however DfI have yet to respond to our requests. They refuse to engage or show up to vital meetings with us and other community groups regarding serious issues needing addressed. The Department have been invited to meetings with us to discuss any issues and refused on countless occasions. Emails sent to the Department from SPARYA, Supporting Communities and local councillors have gone unheeded.”

Mr McNamee says that he has been given an ‘ongoing excuse’ of not enough manpower or funding but says this ‘isn’t good enough’.

“We need DfI to take responsibility… before someone gets hurt from a wall tumbling on top on them or has a bad fall on abandoned walkways within the estate,” he said. “Both the council and Housing Executive can take action for their areas, all we ask is the same action from DfI.

“There is an extensive toolkit of essential repairs needing carried out within the estate, and we’d be quite happy to sit down and go through each need repair with DfI.”

However, the Department has reacted with dismay at Mr McNamee’s claims, stating that they have indeed taken up repairs in the estate which fall under their remit.

A DfI spokesperson commented, “The Department inspects roads routinely on a cyclical basis including roads and footways in the Springhill Estate. Any defects identified during these inspections, which meet current intervention levels are actioned and prioritised for repair in accordance with the Department’s current road maintenance standards. The gullies in Springhill Park were cleaned on 20 September 2021.

“The majority of walls in this area are not maintained by the Department. The few that are the Department’s responsibility do not give rise to any safety concerns.

“DfI staff receive numerous requests to attend meetings. Unfortunately, due to current staffing levels it is not always possible to attend every meeting and we make every effort to attend when we can.”