Battle continues for Ladysmith improvements

Updating members on the issue at last week’s monthly meeting of the local authority, chief executive Anne Donaghy said, as agreed by councillors at their July meeting, planning consultants had been engaged and legal advice sought, not least with regard to conditions laid down by the department of Regional Development.

The Department had previously pointed out to Council that Roads Service would only be in a position to consider assisting in the delivery of an upgrade scheme if three conditions were met...

* DSD and Harryville Partnership take forward one of the options that would permit the upgrade of the area to an adoptable standard.

* Issues relating to the acquisition of land and questions over the unregistered land are fully resolved before commencement of any works by the Council, or DSD.

* No cost, or risk accrues to Roads Service relating to the delivery of the scheme.

Mrs Donaghy also pointed out that there was a moratorium on DSD funding on capital works and that she did not know when it would be lifted.

Responding Cllr Martin Clarke, who has been trying to resolve the problem at Ladysmith Terrace for many years, said: “We have to keep our mind on the money.

“If we can get these issues solved as soon as possible it would be all the better for this situation”.