RESIDENTS are living in "primitive conditions" due to insufficient sewage, roads and lighting on unadopted developments across Fermanagh, Councillors have claimed. 

At a recent meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, correspondence from Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd revealed that his Department has "no plans to introduce further legislation to ensure that  developers, rather than homeowners, are legally obliged to remedy any defects".

However, the Minister stated that his Department has increased the "road bond calculation rates" for new developments, to "ensure that adequate funds remain available to complete any outstanding roads infrastructure works should the developer fail to do so."

Issues on unadopted developments arise when a contractor or developer goes bust without completing essential infrastructure works at a housing development, which often leaves residents with sub-par infrastructure and difficulties in securing a mortgage. 

Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas O'Reilly said residents in Fermanagh have been dealing with problems arising from unadopted developments for over two decades.

"I think it's shameful that there is no new legislation being looked at here," said Councillor O'Reilly. 

"Going back over 20 years we have had this problem of unadopted estates, and I think it is time that the Council assured a specific unit in the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) to address and progress these unadopted estates.

"This is more than an inconvenience; this is drastically affecting people's lives. There's no urgency in either DfI or NI Water to move on getting work (on unadopted estates) undertaken."

Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Maguire said that many residents in Fermanagh are "suffering" due to problems on estates. 

"Residents are suffering. We have residents in our area with insufficient sewage, roads and lighting in estates, and they have been living in these conditions for 20 years plus. 

"It's frustrating that we are dealing with these problems on a daily basis. Some are having to pay to get sewerage systems emptied because it's not connected to the system. It's primitive the way people are having to live in the 21st Century."

Alliance Councillor Eddie Roofe said that issues on unadopted developments are having a "direct impact on the economy", and said the issue "must be made a priority". 

The SDLP's Adam Gannon called on MLAs to do what they can to bring forward new legislation on the issue. 

"I share the frustrations of many people who are affected by this. This is having a massive impact on people and their ability to sell houses and move, not to mention daily impacts on road quality, damage to property and raw sewage on streets. 

"It's beyond ridiculous where we are, and this has been building up for decades. 

"This is a gap in the law, and we need to think about guarantees in place for future that will get the people left like this out of the situation. 

"That will take MLA's from all parties from across assemblies to come together on this. It would be worthwhile for any MLA to bring forward a Private Members Bill that's really well thought out, well written, and supported by all. 

"I propose that write to MLAs in West Tyrone and Fermanagh and ask them if they would they be willing to bring forward such a bill."