Safety concern resolved

Residents have said children have been playing in the hole which they said had been 'poorly' fenced off.

Homeowners in the estate had also said they have injured themselves on unfinished pavements around the development and had plumbing problems in their homes.

"It's not what you expect from a new development," said one resident.

"The pavements right the way through the development have not been given a proper finish and as a result they are uneven and the kerb stones are loose.

"I actually fell and injured myself on the pavement."

The resident said children were able to play in a large hole in the development. It had been fenced off but when the 'MAIL' visited the area the fence was leaning to one side and open at one end. The hole contained building rubble and exposed pipes.

"It's a worry for the children, you can't keep your eye on them all the time - and they can get into it.

"It has been lying like this for some time and my concern is it will be left like this and a child will get injured."

SFH Construction is responsible for the second phase of the development and filled in the hole in the pavement after calls from the 'MAIL'.

A representative from the company said it had left the hole in the pavement for essential works to be carried out.

However, he said the company was only responsible for the second phase of the development and plumbing problems and road work issues in the first stage of the development were not the responsibility of SFH.

John Kelly of SFH Construction said he hoped the second phase of the development would be completed within the next 12 months.

"Until then its an ongoing building site," he said.

"We are only responsible for the second phase of the development and in the first phase another company is responsible.

"We are employed by a management company to undertake the work, but I can not divulge who that is."

He said: "The site has been inspected by the Health and Safety Executive and they have said there is no major problems aside from a minor problem with a fence that may not belong to us.

"The hole in the pavement was left because we were waiting on Northern Ireland Water connecting a tap for water to the remaining houses.

"That authorisation has not happened and we are still waiting on it. Which means that the area will have to be dug up again for the works.

"The area was properly fenced off and it would have been easy to put it back up around the hole."

He added: "The houses in the second phase of the development, which we are responsible for, will be completed when the houses sell, until then it is an ongoing building site."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said an inspector had visited the site.

He said: "The contractor has been very proactive and the matter had been resolved. He appears to be a very responsible contractor."