Residents assured after complaints about Strabane housing estate

A STRABANE construction firm has moved to allay fears over the delayed completion of a housing development on the outskirts of town, assuring residents it will be finished ‘as soon as they are able to do so’.

Paul McGettigan of McGettigan Homes was responding to complaints from residents of Hawthorn Grove regarding the condition of roads and pavements within the development, which is located on the former site of Strabane Hospital.

Residents have raised concerns over untarmacked roads and pavements riddled with potholes, which have led to damage to vehicles and made safe access difficult for disabled people, parents with prams, and young children.

Uneven surfaces and patchy tarmac have also resulted in injuries, according to residents. One resident claimed they had to fight to ensure bin lorries could access the site for collections, as the road into Hawthorn Grove has yet to be adopted by the Roads Service – despite initial assurances it would be completed within 8–10 months of moving in, several years ago.

Addressing the complaints, Mr McGettigan said: “I absolutely appreciate that it is frustrating for residents in Hawthorn Grove but I want to assure them that we have not abandoned the site at all. Any and all concerns are taken seriously and, any time we have been asked, we have gone up to sort out any problems. No-one has contacted us to say that pavements are not navigable and it’s just as much a frustration to McGettigan Homes that we cannot finish Hawthorn Grove yet.

“There is water and roads bonds that need sorted and that cannot be done until NI Water sign off on it and we are in the process of sorting that out with NI Water. There is no sense in fully tarmacking the site only to have to possibly rip it up again if NI Water is not happy. It is a process and we cannot put the cart before the horse.”

When asked about a potential completion date, Mr McGettigan responded: “It is difficult to say but we are hoping maybe a year. There are apartments yet to be built and we expect to begin building after Easter which, again, must be done before any roads get completed.

“Residents in Hawthorn Grove can rest assured though that we have not abandoned you and endeavour to complete the site as soon as possible.”