SINN Fein councillor Eamonn Mc Convey has called on owners of vacant homes to check their properties following the recent cold spell and subsequent thaw which gives way to problems with burst pipes.
“The extreme weather has caused ice to form in water pipes in many areas, ice that has since caused many pipes to burst, “  said the Councillor.
“The burst pipes have in some instances caused severe inconvenience for other neighbouring properties, at times posing a threat to health and safety and flooding.
“It has been reported to me that in some cases, the vacant houses are actually homes that have been repossessed by the banks. Should this be the case, banks need to establish between themselves and their agents who is responsible to check properties and what measures should be taken if difficulties such as this develop. I call on all landlords to prioritise the inspection of their properties as the cold weather gives way to a secondary problem of burst pipes,” councillor Mac Con Midhe said.