130 homes plan concerns Downpatrick residents

130 homes plan concerns Downpatrick residents

13 April 2016

FRESH concern has been expressed about the impact 130 new homes at the Saul Road in Downpatrick will have on the immediate area and the town centre itself.

Amended plans have been lodged with local planners for 87 new homes on land adjacent to Ardenlee Gardens and 42 homes adjacent to nearby Ardfern Road.

Residents who have concerns about the schemes are being encouraged to raise them with local planners before the end of the consultation period on both proposals.

Both development sites feature a mix of housing including bungalows and houses but residents who live nearby are concerned about the impact the schemes will have on the road and sewerage networks in the area and the potential to add to town centre congestion.

A residents’ spokesman said previous concerns expressed about both schemes have had no impact on what he described as a “piecemeal and ad hoc approach to a huge development concept that does not have the infrastructural support that should underpin and make it work.”

He continued: “These developments represent the commencement of a massive construction programme along narrow country roads that will profoundly affect Downpatrick and its surroundings and environment in an accumulating way over a number of years.

“This may not yet be fully appreciated by lay people. In the current construction matters we are dealing with ‘starter issues’ where the real impact will be much less obvious to the broader community.”

The spokesman suggested the impact will “creep up on the community in a rapidly accumulating way,” depending on the economic climate, and cannot be reversed once planning approvals are in place.

The spokesman said planners have been asked to indicate how in determining the applications they have dealt with key issues including water and sewage, traffic disruptions, environmental pollution, access to schools, medical facilities, recreational facilities, car parking, access to shopping and tourism.

He confirmed residents have written to the district’s planning officer requesting details of specific assessments officials have carried out analysing what he described as “profound development proposals.”

The spokesman said Downpatrick is already acquiring an “unfortunate reputation” as an access bottleneck, particularly at school starting and closing times and the morning and evening commute to and from work.

He has asked roads officials to give their opinion on the impact the new developments will have on the Saul Road, taking into account what he described as the “dramatic increase” in traffic at this part of Downpatrick, various access roads and the town centre itself.

The spokesman called on residents in the Saul Road area and Downpatrick in general to oppose the proposed developments and lodge their concerns with the area’s planning officer quoting reference numbers (R/2013/0544/RM) and (R/2014/0091/RM).

He added: “The proposed developments not only affect Saul Road residents, but those across Downpatrick for a variety of reasons. How many people get stuck in traffic in the town on a daily basis and how many avoid Downpatrick in general due to traffic concerns?

“I urge businesses in the Downpatrick area to support opposition to the proposed developments. In addition to the amended schemes, there are proposals to develop the former BT site at the Saul Road and a derelict factory site next door.”

Comments and letters of objection about the Ardenlee Gardens proposal must be submitted by this Friday, April 15, with those in relation to the Ardfern Road proposal due by Monday, April 18.