FOUR YEAR BATTLE TO DEMOLISH HOUSES ENDS IN SUCCESS

RESIDENTS in Longstone Street were rejoicing this week after a long-running campaign to have four derelict houses which had become the focal point for anti social activity in the area demolished ended in success.

Lisburn City Council said it had first served a Statutory Notice several years ago after receiving complaints about the houses being regularly broken into, used as drinking dens and set on fire by arsonists.

However the owners, who it is thought had bought the houses for development, went into administration during that time and the council seemed powerless to enforce the notice due to legal complexities.

The chairman of the the Council’s Planning Committee Alderman James Tinsley said: “The owners were contacted by the Council’s Environmental Health Officers and the properties were subsequently secured but continued to be broken into.

“A Statutory Notice was served on the then owners, under the Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order, to secure the properties.

”However, the owners went into Administration in early 2011. The Council served a notice on the Administrator on April 13 last year to ensure the properties were kept secure or alternatively demolished.”

The owners considered demolishing the properties but it was deemed too expensive and the Statutory Notice could not be enforced as insolvency legislation excludes administrators from enforcement action.