Minister sees flats issue on Dunmurry walkabout

Mr McCausland came at the request of Lagan Valley MLA Jonathan Craig who outlined the problems he said residents were facing.

“Over the past decade, general maintenance of the flats has been kept to a minimum and only after serious discussions with the previous Minister for Social Development, was it agreed to move forward with the health and safety works at the flats in Dunmurry,” explained Mr Craig.

“This unfortunately has not addressed all of the issues, as it was pointed out to the Minister that wiring in many of the flats was reaching the end of its life causing many shorts.

“It was also pointed out that some of the balconies on the flats have started to come away from the main building and we are trying to ensure that the health and safety aspect was being dealt with in regard to this,” continued Mr Craig.

“The Minister listened to the views of the Residents’ Association in the Dales and spoke to the people living in the flats.”

Mr McCausland told the residents that in the past great emphasis was put on new homes at the expense of maintaining the existing buildings and this was something that he was determined to redress. He said the lack of maintenance in the Dales was an illustration of where this policy had gone wrong.

“The Minister has asked his Department to look into heating, electric wiring and building issues to see if a compromise can be put together to meet the needs of the flats in the Dales and retain safe housing for the residents in the area,” concluded Mr Craig.