by Gareth Cross
A Newbuildings homeowner yesterday expressed his anger at what he called a broken 'Gentleman's Agreement' with NI Water.
Kyle Wasson, who lives in the Primity Gardens area, allowed NI Water and their contractors access to his garden to repair a damaged pipe linked to a neighbour's home.
Mr Wasson's neighbour's property was damaged in the August flooding and he said NI Water officials told him that work would have to be carried out through a manhole at his property to finish the repairs.
As part of the work a wall had to be removed and his tool shed was knocked down and he said that he was told they would be replaced.
Mr Wasson also claimed that following a discussion with the contractors and NI Water it was agreed that some concreting work would be included in the back yard as a gesture of goodwill.
Though some of the work work has now been completed Mr Wasson said he was unhappy with the quality of the rebuilt wall.
"It looks like a blind man built it," he said.
"My yard is ready for concreting and I have now been told by NI Water that it's one or the other, the concreting or my shed replaced.
"The work was done a few weeks back and there's been no progress and NI Water are ignoring me despite numerous calls.
There was also damage caused to a footpath near Mr Wasson's home as a result of the work.
"My footpath is not even closed off from the digging and there are bricks and dears lying all over the place," he said.
"We had a gentleman's agreement and I just want them to come and finish the work.
"They have ordered me a new shed but I don't want to accept it until the work has been finished."
Local Independent councillor Maurice Devenney said that he and Mr Wasson were seeking an urgent meeting with NI Water at the property to address the issues.
"We want to have an onsite meeting and have the work carried out as agreed," he said.
"Its been three weeks and the footpath is used by children, the elderly and the disabled and it's current unsafe.
"They've rebuilt his wall and we checked it with a spirit level and it's two and a half to three inches off."
An NI Water spokesperson confirmed they had been in touch with Mr Wasson and Alderman Devenney.
“NI Water has been in regular contact with the customer and most recently liaised with an elected representative acting on their behalf," the spokesperson said.
“In circumstances such as this, where access is needed to a public manhole in order to avoid further flooding, NI Water is responsible for replacing ‘like for like’.
"Unfortunately, therefore, we cannot concreate a yard where it did not exist before.
The spokesperson said that the wall had been rebuilt to an approved standard.
"Work has been carried out to the wall, which was rebuilt to an approved standard and a replacement of the shed is ready," the spokesperson said.
"In the interim, NI Water provided the customer with temporary storage for the contents. The new shed is ready to be installed although the customer has still to give permission to do this.
"NI Water has advised the customer on how to take his complaint further should he continue to be unhappy with the work that has been carried out so far."
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