Councillor Charlie Casey laments Newry “administrative nightmare” | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Councillor Charlie Casey laments Newry “administrative nightmare”

Newry City Councillor Charlie Casey has called for a “Local Area Agreement” which he says will encourage agencies such as the Housing Executive, Roads Service and Council Departments to work together.

The Sinn Féin Councillor was speaking after getting what he described as “the runaround” when he tried to establish the ownership of an area at Helens Terrace in the City which needed maintenance carried out.

 

 

“I approached the Council requesting work be carried out. Following a written request for clarity on the situation a Ccouncil official stated that the Council had no ownership of the land.

“Sinn Féin then contacted the Housing Executive by letter, who also stated they had nothing to do with it. A similar letter was sent to Roads Service and the same response came from them. Bottom line is that no Agency wants to take responsibility for the area.”

The Newry City representative continued, “People are fed-up at being passed from agency to agency, department to department.

 

 

“I am totally frustrated by the lack of joined up thinking between agencies. They may claim to have a strategy for such practice on paper, but examples like Helens Terrace are unfortunately plentiful in our Council area.

“What’s happening at present is an administrative nightmare. We end up with “limbo” areas and eventually unsightly dangerous spaces. The time for passing the buck, and giving the run-around has to stop. It is costing money and people’s time,” he warned.

The Newry, Mourne and Down Councillor stated that he intended to ask the Council to lead the way in tackling the problem. “There is a better way. A Local Area Agreement between Council and key Agencies such as Housing, Water, Roads, Electric and Gas is needed.

 

 

“An audit should be done if the “limbo” areas such as in Helens Court, where ownership can be established and an agreement can be made as to what Agency will take responsibility for maintenance and care of the space.

“It is a simple enough request, cost-effective and will ultimately be to the benefit of the communities we serve. I will ask the Council to convene a meeting with all relevant bodies and officers so that this initiative can be discussed and developed.”

 

 

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=64696

Posted by on Aug 1 2018. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Leave a Reply







Find us on Facebook

Log in | Designed by Gabfire themes