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| 1 Stewart's Place, Holywood |
Ever since problems started to arise
with the structural integrity of 1 Stewart’s Place in June last year I have
been relentlessly campaigning for a prompt solution. Following partial collapse
in July 2016 local businesses, residents and visitors have had to endure full
and then partial closure of the busy Bangor Road, damaging trade and causing
great inconvenience whilst building left to deteriorate and home to an
infestation of rats which has caused misery for local householders.
I am therefore encouraged to learn
that new owners of the building seem willing to engage to fix the historic
building and get the road re-opened as soon as possible. This does however have
to be tapered with previous experience which has been characterised by foot
dragging and broken promises which has left many people rightly angry.
Following my previous proposal that Council explore all options to get the road
re-opened I was glad to see the Council’s Environment Committee recently receive a
comprehensive report detailing a range of avenues available to get
the issue sorted. Whilst seek to meet with the new owners I intend to
follow up on this report and hopefully get deadlines for initiation of the
various options to prevent any further drift. The time for action has long
passed with deadlines vital to get things moving and new owner forced to sort
what’s sadly fast become known as Holywood’s House from Hell.