Copperthorpe issues are 'being resolved' says developer

The new plans sound great but what about our tennis courts, drains and street lamps, ask the current residents of Copperthorpe.

Last week the Sentinel reported how developer Brookview planned to kick start a brand new 60million pound housing build this summer generating approximately 200 jobs and culminating in hundreds of homes by completion.

But residents of the initial phase of Copperthorpe - who have been living in the estate for between five and six years - complain roads and drains have not yet been adopted by the statutory authorities and tennis courts promised in original brochures have not yet materialised.

Locals are also frustrated street lighting is incomplete and the original phase of the development is to be used by the developer to gain access to the new build from this summer onwards.

In response the developer Brookview told the Sentinel it wants to make Copperthorpe as "desirable a place as possible for everyone to live." A spokeswoman for the firm said street lighting will be installed throughout the estate by the end of this month.

The new development originally provoked 11 letters of objection but on March 2 this year was provisionally approved by Derry City Council's Planning Committee.

The Council moved that the Planning Service be authorised to issue an approval in respect of the application subject to "outstanding technical issues being resolved."

Davy Jackson has been living in Copperthorpe since 2004. He told the Sentinel about a number of technical issues he would like to see resolved before any further development goes ahead. Street lighting is a key concern.

"What basically happened was that at the bottom of the street they had no lights for most of the winter past there," he said. "A couple of those people have complained about the fact that they had no lights and I complained on their behalf about the lights."

Mr Jackson's neighbour Phillip Brown said a stand-off over the sewers in the estate is also causing a hold-up in the local drainage and roads infrastructure being adopted by the statutory authorities.

He told the paper: "Well, we've been told by NI Water that it's not an easy fix. It is quite a big job with regard to the digging up."

He added: "NI Water is saying it is acceptable for the rest of Great Britain but it's not acceptable to NI Water.

"Brookview are arguing that it is of an acceptable standard. It seems to be a stand-off. The developer has to fix it. Roads Service won't adopt anything and nothing is passed until NI Water have given the go ahead otherwise they might have to dig up the roads etc."

The Sentinel asked NI Water its view on the drainage infrastructure. A spokeswoman said: "NI Water can confirm discussions are ongoing with a developer in relation to the remedial works that are necessary to bring the sewerage infrastructure within the Copperthorpe development to an adoptable standard.

"Roads Service and Planning Service have been kept informed of NI Water's position regarding the sewers within the development. The Developer has responsibility for day to day maintenance until the sewers are at a suitable standard for adoption by NI Water."

And Roads Service say it will not adopt the roads of the development until the sewers have been adopted by NI Water.

This leaves residents of the estate - situated on a steep incline - in a difficult predicament during icy weather such as that experienced in the North West recently.

"We were left in the lurch as far as that road was concerned with ice," said Mr Jackson. "I had to keep phoning up and asking for salt or whatever and then it was delivered to my house and I had to go and take it down to all the bins."

But despite the palpable frustration of residents on reading of the exciting new development plans by Brookview no-one wants to see Drumahoe developed more.

Said Mr Brown: "You've seen the original brochures - 2003 - now the words in this are exactly the same as in the ads for the new development.

"You see the illustrations of tennis courts and whatever. If that happens that's fantastic but we are what five, six years down the line now and they're talking about this new build being phase one whilst we are in phase three of the original Copperthorpe."

Added Mr Jackson: "And there's nobody wants it more than us. I mean if it happens it's good for the development and it's good for the area but the fact that they haven't finished what they promised here is what is annoying us."

Anita O'Connor of Brookview said the developers want to make Copperthorpe a desirable a place to live for everyone; that the firm is currently in negotiations with NI Water over the drainage; and that comprehensive street lighting will be in place by the end of this month.

She said: "We are doing what we can to resolve any outstanding issues any of the residents have and to make it as desirable a place as possible for everyone to live in."

With regards to the drainage issues she said: "The road is currently bonded and we are in negotiations with them to get a solution. It is properly bonded. These things take time but we want it resolved."

A member of the Planning Service told that meeting that extensive discussions had taken place between all the interested parties and the applicants' agents had made strenuous efforts to resolve the objections received.

A spokesman for the Planning Service advised: "The applicant is Brookview Developments and the agent is ASI Architects Ltd, 2-4 Shipquay Place, Derry City (71 374432). The application is under consideration."