Battle Joined Over 'King Billy's Army' Site

There's a new 'Battle of the Boyne' raging over an area of historic significance in Newtownabbey.

As NI's Orange Order (pictured) prepares to celebrate the 318th anniversary of the pivotal engagement in history this weekend, the area now preserved as where "King William III rode over the strand from Carrick to meet his army" is to see a fresh bid to end a modern-day skirmish and to defuse a long-running dispute over land in Newtownabbey.

Former Mayor and current Chair of Newtownabbey Council's Planning Committee DUP Alderman Nigel Hamilton suggested some form of mediation as "a way to resolve and take the tension out of this."

He was speaking as it was revealed that the Council has already forked out £15,000 in legal fees to resolve a problem with a resident of the borough who is in breach of conditions surrounding domestic landfill works at the rear of his property.

The Council's Chief Executive Norman Dunn revealed the hefty sum paid out to solicitors providing legal advice on its wrangle with Robert McMitchell, owner of a property at Whitehouse Park.

However, he stated the figure represented a 'mere drop in the ocean' in that it did not include monies for technical experts, nor did it cover costs associated with the significant amount of time spent by council staff on this dispute.

The rear gardens of the property in question have been the subject of controversy following extensive infilling of the site and the erection of a fence on what is allegedly council-owned land by owner Mr McMitchell.

Significant amounts of clay, stone and rubble have been brought onto the site in order to raise the level of the rear garden, extending to land adjacent to Gideon's Park - famous as the landing place of King William of Orange's army in 1690 - which is owned by the Borough.

Mr McMitchell sought planning permission to retain and re-contour the land using inert material and top soiling to create a garden. Despite significant objections to the plans at the time, Planning Service recommended approval.

However, late last year, it was decided that Mr McMitchell must restore the Council-owned land to its pre-lease condition.

He was given until the end of June 2008 to complete the works, but the meeting of the Council heard that existing material on site has not been removed and remedial works not been carried out as specified.

Despite the bid for further mediation, the Council has resolved to arrange to carry out the necessary works and have its lawyers instruct Mr McMitchell that it will recover the costs of that work from him.

(BMcC/KMcA)