Action demanded to improve amenities

According to residents, the steps at either end of the estate, the dilapidated state of the pavement and the non-existent lighting in places left more vulnerable residents near-prisoners in their own homes unless neighbours offered them a helping hand to get to the shops, community centre or just out and about.

One woman who lives at the far end of the estate, Elizabeth Dunn, said the steps adjacent to her home were treacherous and were so bad that one neighbour, who has diabetes, could not get into or out of her home without help.

"The ice and snow was so bad that you could not tell where you were putting your foot, and that, in addition to the poor condition of the paths and the lack of lighting is making life here very difficult for the elderly and for those with poor eyesight.

"Some of the steps are loose, the kerbing is broken and the pavement is broken, and in the area around the pensioners' houses and in another area at the other end of the estate there are pockets where the lighting is either very poor or non-existent.

"It would make the elderly people feel safer in their homes if the lighting to these areas was improved, particularly at the back of their homes, and it would improve their mobility if the steps and pavements were upgraded," she said.

Following a site visit to the area on Thursday, DUP Alderman Drew Thompson said he and his party colleague Maurice Devenney had identified a number of issues and raised them with the Roads Service.

"The main area of concern seems to relate to the paving and lighting between 69 and 76 Lincoln Courts, where steps run up to the houses. The paving slabs there appear to be uneven and some are loose, and I have now spoken to Roads Service about this. I have also spoken to them about the lighting and in particular two lights, and I have been given an assurance that everything possible will be done to try and get these lights working early this week," he said.

Mr Thompson added: "There are other issues in the estate which have also been raised, but these may well have to be scheduled for work in the near future."