Pensioner won’t back down
Thursday, 23 October 2008
AN 86-year-old Limavady pensioner says she is standing her ground and will fight plans by a local developer who wants part of her garden for a retail development.
Helena Hunt refused to sell the section of land to developer Charlie Mullan of Oakmore Developments, who offered her £250,000 in 2001, and now the company is urging Limavady Borough Council to vest the land for the project.
Miss Hunt has lived in the Catherine Street house since she was born in 1922 and has said previously: "It doesn't matter how much they're willing to give me. This is my home. The garden is part of my home and I love it. I love watching the birds nesting and I love watching the wild bees in the ivy on my garden wall."
The retired music teacher said: "Some people may say that I am holding up a major development for Limavady. All I want is my garden and that should not be too much to ask for."
Meanwhile, Mr Mullin has said that the proposed Market Yard retail scheme, encompassing five acres of Limavady Town Centre, represents a major town-centre regeneration programme which will act as an "economic and social catalyst for the entire area".
Commenting on what he regards as providing much needed employment opportunities for local people he said: "It is envisaged that this development will not only enhance the town's ability to successfully compete with other areas in terms of retail provision but will also greatly improve the visual amenity of the town whilst creating upwards of 400 jobs in a time of serious economic difficulty. Other local businesses that provide materials and labour for the construction industry will also benefit greatly throughout the building programme.
"At present Limavady and the surrounding area is reeling from the effects of recent substantial job losses. There has been a lack of economic investment in the area for some significant time. In the prevailing economic gloom, this development is a bright light which will kick-start the local economy and provide valuable employment in a town that so desperately needs it."
Mr Mullin has also said that the possibility of attracting a strong anchor tenant is "significantly hindered" if this piece of garden is not included in the scheme.
He continued: "The home owner will retain all rights to her house; ownership of her house will not in any way be affected.
"In rates alone, this development stands to attract over £250,000 annually for the benefit of Limavady Borough Council, not to mention the positive knock-on effect in generating more business in the surrounding Borough. We also know that unemployment figures for Limavady have already doubled this month and are set to treble by January 2009 . A development like this is vital in keeping the economy of Limavady Borough alive.
“I understand that the Council is seeking to do what is best for all the community and I too am anxious to accommodate all concerned, but Council has a duty to deliver jobs and prosperity to Limavady. It is imperative that they endorse and appropriately support this scheme.
“I remain available to meet with all interested parties to see if we can achieve an outcome which will allow Limavady to progress and serve once again as a thriving gateway to the North West."
UUC Councillors Boyd Douglas and Leslie Cubitt are supporting Miss Hunt and have said the pensioner should not be forced to give up what is "rightfully hers".
They feel it would be ethically wrong for the Council to "take the land off her" by vesting.
Councillor Douglas has been in contact with Miss Hunt since the proposal was first put forward. He said: "She was very distraught by recent development when I called to see her last week.
“The developer has no need of this strip of land and it does not impede development on this site, as Oakmore Developments has two separate planning approvals on the said site, one for retail plus housing and another for 130 houses, and work has already begin on this site."
Councillors Douglas and Cubitt have said they are "disgusted" by Nationalist support for the vesting within Council and have vowed to support Miss Hunt in every way they can.
Councillor Cubitt added: "It's getting out of hand. If Council goes ahead and vests this land there is likely to be a judicial review into the matter from the European Commission of Human Rights, which of course will cost more money. This is an elderly resident who has lived in Limavady all her life and loves her home. No part of it should be taken from her."
However, Sinn Fein's Paddy Butcher said the project could provide 400 new jobs as well as two or three years work for the local construction industry.
Cllr Butcher said: "We need to address the disinformation which Cllr Douglas and Cllr Cubitt were reporting on radio interviews last week.
“Also Cllr Cubitt's estimates of the cost to council of the vesting being several hundred thousand pounds is absolutely ridiculous.
“We have made it perfectly clear, as a pre-requisite for our support for this project, all costs to date and all future costs must be covered by the developer, not the rate payers of Limavady.
“Our enthusiasm for this project is purely an economic one, the estimates in the business plan which was presented to council envisage up to 400 new jobs being created, and obviously two or three years work for the local construction industry.
“As regards the vesting of one part of this garden, council's legal advisers commissioned an independent retail expert to advise on this and that report has indicated that it is absolutely essential for this piece of garden to be vested in order to make the project work."
