Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NATURE RESERVE SOLD FOR £67,000
MLA says it’s disgrace ‘natural haven’ worth £1m let go for fraction of value
YESTERDAY
enquiry into this entire process by the Infrastructure Minister, and the price received for the site and will also referring this to the Northern Ireland Audit Office.”
The public in the area had looked after the Portavoe Reservoir for decades, clubbing together as The Friends of Portavoe.
It was a popular and safe spot for walking, family days out and fishing.
But last May large metal gates were erected at Portavoe Reservoir between Donaghadee and Groomsport and the public in surrounding coastal areas demanded legal access to the lake during negotiations for its sale.
Friends of Portavoe campaigner Tricia Graham has helped look after the lake and surrounding area for 35 years.
She said: “This place should not be privatised. It was the only reservoir in Northern Ireland to be purchased by an act of parliament for the sole purpose of ensuring it was not privatised.
“Council gave Portavoe to NI Water who have had it for sale. We feel we’ve been run out of the area, blocked with metal gates and fences when we believe NI Water didn’t have the moral authority to sell something that was entrusted to the people of the area.
“A property developer entered in negotiations to buy the land and we tried to persuade Northern Ireland
Water not to sell it. Thousands of people over the years have gone to Portavoe lake for exercise, recovery from illness, to help mental health conditions and to care for and watch the plethora of wildlife in the area.
RARE
“We have pairs of rare great spotted woodpeckers, barn owls, otters, water voles, long eared owls and much more. We feel we are losing a precious natural haven that has been enjoyed for decades by the public.”
The reservoir fell into disuse in 1992 and today decommissioning it would cost around £140,000.
Until now it has been inspected every 10 years and with shooting and hunting prohibited, it has become a natural haven for wildlife enthusiasts, walkers and its gentle walks are
widely used by people recuperating from ill health and surgery.
It is understood property developer Derek Tughan, described in the High Court in 2017 as the “driving force” behind Portavoe Estates, is involved in negotiations over the sale of the area despite locals saying they have earned the right to continue accessing it.
Mr Tughan won a High Court battle with Northern Ireland Water in his wider bid to buy back lands at the North Down reservoir.
A spokesperson for NI Water said: “We are fully aware of the importance of Portavoe Reservoir to the local community and understand their concerns as ownership of the site changes.”