Urgent Works Notice For Dundrum Property

THE owner of a property in Dundrum’s Main Street had an Urgent Works Notice served on him to carry out structural repair work.

Following a number of complaints to Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke, he said: “Since 2009 I had been working very closely with the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency and also Building Control of Down District Council to encourage the owner of 119/121 Main Street, to carry out urgent repairs to ensure the vacant building did not further deteriorate into worse decline.

“The historic building which were listed in July 1980 have been vacant for many years, and despite repeated attempts by myself, Down District Council and NIEA requesting the cooperation of the property owner to carry out works to prevent further deterioration of the adjoining properties, actions were not forthcoming from the owner.

Councillor Patrick Clarke beside the building in Dundrum

“Efforts to secure the building were carried out by Down District Council, although these were of a temporary nature and the properties continued to remain open to the elements and were continuing to deteriorate.

 “The large wooden hoarding which had been erected around 119-121 Main Street back in March 2009 was put in place by Down District Council for the health and safety of pedestrians walking along Main Street, but was very unsightly and not aesthetically pleasing to the picturesque village of Dundrum.

“A number of site meetings did take place in June and November 2011 with NIEA, DDC, myself and the property owner to progress the matter, but these proved unsuccessful to reach a resolution to make the listed building safe in order to remove the large wooden hoarding.

“After further discussions between myself and the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency about the continuing decline of 119-121 Main Street and the large wooden hoarding around the building agreement was reached to serve an Urgent Works Notice on the property owner which was executed on 14 February.

“I now finally welcome the intervention by the Department of the Environment to serve an Urgent Works Notice (UWN) on the owner of 119-121 Main Street, Dundrum, giving a final opportunity to carry out, after which if the works have not commenced, the Department of the Environment will carry these out, and seek recovery of the costs from the owner.

“The serving of the Urgent Works Notice will allow necessary works to be carried out to the listed building along Main Street in Dundrum and allow the large wooden hoarding which has blighted the Main Street since March 2009 to be finally removed returning a large segment of footpath and the Main Street back to its original state,” added Councillor Clarke.

DOE Serves Urgent Works Notice

The Department of the Environment (DOE) has served an Urgent Works Notice on the owner of 119 - 121 Main Street, Dundrum, a pair of listed buildings on a key tourist route to the Mournes.

This pair of conjoined urban vernacular buildings are key constituent parts of the heritage of Dundrum and, despite repeated attempts by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to encourage the owner to take action, no works have been carried out.

The Department has now issued a notice which outlines the action it will take to carry out emergency works if the owner does not initiate these within seven days. The notice is one of a number planned this year across Northern Ireland following the heritage crime summit.

Welcoming the move, Environment Minister Alex Attwood, said: “This is a tangible commitment to Dundrum’s rich heritage. Our listed buildings are jewels from the past which need to be conserved for now and future generations. Once gone they can never be brought back. That is why, following the Heritage Crime summit that I organised, I provided extra funding to ensure direct action such as this could be taken to protect our listed buildings.

"What I and the DOE are about is creating a better place to live, work and invest. Listed buildings attract much tourism and there is always the potential to develop this further by securing and preserving our listed buildings. I am determined we do that and this Urgent Works Notice is an example of that determination.

“As part of the Programme For Government, the DOE is committed to 'protect and enhance our environment and natural resources."