Posted online: Mar 8th, 2007

A Letterkenny family who have lived at their Woodlands home for over 30 years will be left virtually living on a roundabout looking out at an eight foot wall and railing if new road plans go-ahead, it has been claimed. However, Donegal Co. Council is only offering them compensation which is about one sixth of what an estate agent has evaluated.

The Bovaird family has received a compensation offer from Donegal County Council which amounts to E25,000 for the planned realignment of the R245 main Letterkenny to Ramelton road at the Woodlands junction which impinges on the their land.

However, an independent survey carried out by Sherry Fitzgerald McLoughlin estate agents has judged the compensation claim to be almost six times the council offer at E146,215 with the reduction in value of their E300,000 bungalow home coming to E135,000.

John Bovaird has expressed his dismay and anger at the council who he feels has let him down.

The planned realignment first came in front of the council in July 2005. He recalls attending two meetings and how he was told outside the chamber by a councillor and road engineer that he “would be badly affected and if he was living there he wouldn’t be too happy but compensation was the only way forward.”

He also claims that he was told: “Whatever had to be paid should it be E1.40 or E1m it would be paid and not to worry.”

However, Mr Bovaird claims that stalling tactics were used by a councillor and engineer outside the chamber as when he finally entered the motion to go ahead had been carried. Mr. Bovaird cited safety, invasion of privacy, devaluation of property and health as his main objections.

In February, 2006, the council approached the Bovairds with the compensation for the realignment.

“If you look at the plans the road will become an accident black spot and the residents need to see what is happening and meet and discuss it. The obvious solution may be a roundabout. However no one has approached me about such a plan. While I accept the need for the realignment the situation they have left me in is totally unacceptable,” he said.