Concern over plans for 'new' Westacres

A public meeting was due to be held on Wednesday to discuss future plans for Drumgor Shopping Centre.

The ‘MAIL’ understands as well as redeveloping the shopping centre, proposals include a two-lane link road through Westacres and the erection of sheltered housing.

It’s believed if the sheltered housing was to get the go ahead, it would be located on land between Westacres and Drumgor Shopping Centre.

Also a possibility for Westacres is a drop in centre and a special garden for older people.

Westacres residents were invited by Craigavon Borough Council to attend Wednesday’s meeting in Drumgor Community Centre.

“This project seems to have been run very low key,” said a spokesman for the residents' association.

He said most people only learned of the project at the Brownlow Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership meeting on May 10 of this year.

He added: “The now demolished flats were sheltered accommodation in Westacres. The residents of Westacres suffered years of torture and abuse from the occupants living in these flats and their friends from outside the estate.

“The two lane link road would increase the volume of traffic through Westacres - this includes heavy goods lorries, cars using it as a short cut and the possibility of joyriders and boy racers.”