Concerns over building site

It has been claimed children are using the unsecured development site at Drumnagoon Meadow as a ‘playground’.

The claims follow an incident there last week when a portable toilet was set on fire.

Police are appealing for information following the fire at the building site on Drumnagoon Road.

Around 10pm on Thursday, June 5, the portable toilet was set alight. Fire service and police attended.

A number of youths were seen in the area around 
the time.

A resident in the area expressed concerns for the safety of children following the incident.

He said: “This site is in no way secured and there are any one of a hundred dangers there.”

The resident said youngsters were going onto the site for kicks and this seems to be how last week’s fire arose.

He went on to say when the fire brigade arrived their immediate concern was a shipping container from the back of an articulated lorry which seems to be used as a site office,

“If there had been anything flammable or explosive in the that container, who knows what might have happened,” he added.

Another local pointed out the site is easily accessible from the Drumnagoon Road with no fencing in place to keep youngsters - or indeed adults with nefarious intentions - out of the site.

He went on: “There is a fascination for children with building sites and they do not understand the dangers. I would call on the developers to protect their investment and children in the area by fencing off the development. It’s not just for the good of children but also to deter would-be thieves.”

When contacted about the concerns of residents the developers - Windsor Developments - responded simply: “No comment.”

Police are appealing to anyone who has information in relation to last week’s arson incident to contact them in Portadown on the 101 non-emergency number, quoting ref; 1371050614.

If you prefer to provide information without giving your details you can contact the independent Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.