Co Tyrone residents left ‘in limbo’ by developer’s bankruptcy

HOMEOWNERS who paid up to £180,000 to live in a serene Omagh estate have expressed concern about ‘unsafe’ defects in the area following the abrupt bankruptcy of the development’s primary contractor.

Woodbrook Village, a quiet residential area in Omagh’s Brookmount Road, was advertised as ‘luxury accommodation for the over 45s’.

However, the promise of meticulously landscaped grounds and seamlessly paved roads stood in stark contrast to the reality faced by residents today, after the developer in charge of building the area went bankrupt.

This has left landscaping uncompleted, and ‘dangerous’ potholes and bumps on paths and roads.

Attempts by residents to contact the developer have also been fruitless.

The issue was raised by Cllr Barry McElduff at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday night.

The local authority has agreed to explore the possibility of utilising a bond paid by the developer to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to rectify the defects.

Ruth Fox, who moved into the area a year ago, said the current situation is “far removed” from what she was initially promised.

“When my husband and I moved into our home, we were told it was the idea place for an elderly person to live, and that the outside areas would be completed in only a few short months.

“Unfortunately, my husband passed away just a month after we moved in, and the work was never completed. If it wasn’t for my family helping to tidy the outside area around my home, there would just be mud where the garden is.”

Mrs Fox also said some parts of the estate are currently unsafe due to potholes and defects.

She added, “ I have already fallen once using the paths, but thankfully I was OK

“I just hope somebody can come and fix things before someone gets hurt.”

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the current state of the area has fallen short of what they were promised seven years ago.

“I was one of the first people to move in, and I was really optimistic and excited about living here.

“In many ways it’s a lovely area, and my neighbours are fantastic, but we have not gotten what we were promised.

“I was told that the estate would be beautifully landscaped and the roads and paths would be very smooth so elderly residents could move about easily.

“But that’s not the case because the developer has gone bankrupt. As you see yourself, the area is full of divots and can be unsafe.”

Cllr Barry McElduff brought the residents’ predicament to the attention of the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on Tuesday night.

He proposed exploring the possibility of utilising a bond paid by the developer to the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) to rectify the defects.

“I have been contacted by residents of Woodbrook Village who live in the development on Brookmount Road,” Cllr McElduff informed the chamber.

“Some of the residents are elderly and vulnerable, and this should be a priority.”

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Josephine Deehan and passed unanimously.

The UH has attempted to contact the developer for a comment, but we were unable to get a response.