BY CIARAN WOODS
"It's a disgrace, the smell is terrible and we shouldn't have to put up with it. The neighbours are giving out and it's not my fault," said a local man who is fed up with a lack of action by housing authorities to deal with a problem which has seen rising sewage and water create a vile and pugnent stream at the end of his driveway.
Patrick Moore lives on Meenagorp Road, between Strabane and Plumbridge. Over the past months, he has been plagued by water and sewage seeping up from between the tar and kerb at the end of his laneway. Despite ongoing contact with the authorities, the problem has remained unsolved and unfixed.
Speaking last week, Patrick explained that he feels exhausted and exasperated that the situation remains as it was, with the recent spell of hot weather only accentuating the problem.
"The smell is terrible, especially if the wind blows up towards the house. It's always there, it never dries up, flowing out and down the road. There's young children here, and you know what children are like, you can't keep them out of it. What if they catch something from it? It can't be healthy.
"The neighbours keep on to me, asking me have I not got it sorted out or cleaned up yet, but there's nothing more I can do. There's children go up and down the road on their way to school, people cycle, and it's bad for everyone. It flows down the road and into a drain that leads to a burn on the other side of the road. That burn used to be full of brown trout, and it can't be good for them."
The house is under the control of North and West Housing LTD, based in Derry. An acknowledgement letter received by Patrick dated March 26 states that a contractor "has been instructed to carry out work." The letter states the repair job as "Priority: U (Urgent) - 4 calendar days," and that it should be completed by March 30 2007. As of last Friday, May 4, no work had been carried out.
"I just want it to be sorted. Nobody should have to put up with this outside their house," Patrick concluded.
When contacted this week, North and West Housing confirmed that efforts were ongoing in a bid to resolve the problem, and that work should be completed over the coming days.
