Opposition to new ‘scenic view’ plans
This old stereoscopic photograph - taken in the early 1900s - was taken at another spot in the Waterside which had magnificent views of the city's west bank. It's located just yards from the Old Quarry site.
Householders whose homes command magnificent views of Derry and Donegal have vowed to oppose new development plans for the area.
Residents of Dunfield Terrace in the Waterside - which boasts superb panoramic views of the city and beyond - are up in arms at new proposals to build 20 houses on the nearby ‘Old Quarry’ site.
Local homeowner Felicity McCall says people in the area have already started lobbying local politicians and won’t rest until the new plans are rejected.
Derry MLA Pat Ramsey says he will go directly to Environment Minister Alex Attwood if a satisfactory outcome is not reached with local planning chiefs.
Felicity McCall says: “We believed that, given the City Council’s endorsement of the Planners’ rejection of a previous related application on such definitive and long lasting grounds, we had secured our environment for future generations; but, after 34 years, the message is clear - we will not give up.
“The view form Dunfield is one of the most photographed, filmed and promoted vistas of Derry - it must not be obscured and turned into a building site during our Culture year.”
Ms. McCall argues that not one of the 199 adjacent houses has any personal green space and the planned development will take away the only green area available to local people.
She says that congestion in the built-up district means that it’s often difficult for the emergency services to make their way through the area - a problem she believes will only worsen if the new plans get the green light.
Assemblyman Pat Ramsey is firmly behind the residents’ campaign.
He says: “It would be a crying shame if planning permission was granted which would effectively destroy one of the most scenic beauty spots in the city. It would be a huge loss to the entire city and would have a totally detrimental impact on traffic congestion in the area.
“I intend to write to Alex Attwood on this situation and, if necessary, we will take a deputation to him.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Derry
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
