Environment Minister Alex Attwood gathered district councils to a Blight Summit to address eyesores in our towns and cities.

Recently DOE used powers for the first time which led to the demolition of the Strand Hotel eyesore in Portstewart.

District councils have also powers to serve notice on owners of dilapidated buildings. If they don't comply, Councils have the powers to carry out that work.

At the Summit, in Clifton House, Belfast, the councils heard how Belfast City Council has been successfully using its powers recently. This has lead to eyesores being demolished on the Antrim Road and at the Falls/Broadway junction. Demolition is not the only action. The run down graffiti covered old bank at the junction of Tates Avenue and Lisburn Road saw the building being cleaned, painted and graphics put in the windows.

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Mr Attwood made a rallying call at the Summit for all district councils to use the full force of the law to deal with urban blight issues such as defective, ruinous and dilapidated buildings and neglected building sites.

Mr Attwood said: "Urban blight is a significant and growing problem, it discourages local investment and has an adverse impact on local businesses and tourism. Ruinous buildings and neglected building sites spoil the appearance and attractiveness of the areas in which they are located and degrade the quality of life for local residents.

"We don't need to tolerate these eyesores. We have the laws to deal with them. Let’s use them. The removal of the Strand Hotel in Portstewart was a clear example of DOE using its powers. There have been more urgent works notices on listed buildings in the last eighteen months than in the previous thirty eight years.

"Belfast City Council has been able to use the existing law very successfully to take action against ruinous and dilapidated buildings and neglected sites throughout the city. That is why I call on councils to learn from Belfast and I encourage all councils to take such action in their respective districts. However, I also appreciate there may be a need to strengthen the existing laws to allow for more effective action to be taken, for example, in respect of abandoned building sites. I will certainly be addressing that."

(CD)