Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Residents in fight for access to public lake
Campaign to halt sale of reservoir
A MAJOR battle is raging over the proposed privatisation of a nature reserve vested to the public 90 years ago.
Metal gates have been erected at Portavoe reservoir between Donaghadee and Groomsport in Co Down.
The public is demanding legal access to the lake they have looked after for decades as talks continue over its sale.
Friends of Portavoe campaigner Tricia Graham 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 believe NI Water didn’t have the moral authority to sell something that was entrusted to the people of the area.
“A developer has been in negotiations to buy the land and we’ve been trying to persuade NI Water not to sell it.
“Thousands of people over the years
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.
“We have pairs of rare great spotted woodpeckers, barn owls, otters, water voles, long eared owls and much more.”
The reservoir fell into disuse in 1992 and today decommissioning it would cost around £140,000.
Developer Derek Tughan, described in the High Court in 2017 as the “driving force” behind Portavo Estates, is involved in negotiations over the sale of the area.
Mr Justice Horner said his company was held to have a right of preemption to a major stretch acquired from its predecessors in 1933 to form the now disused Portavo Reservoir.
The judge also rejected claims by NI Water the rights cannot be applied because of construction work. But Allihave ance councillor Gavin Walker said: “We continue to fight for a Public Right of Way and I have been assured an update on this will be brought to council
“We have secured the final piece of evidence required to trigger the process of asserting a Public Right of Way at the Portavoe Reservoir, a move which will ensure public access to the much-loved location for generations to come.
“While some potential roadblocks remain, I am confident the formal assertion of the Right of Way at the important nature habitat between Groomsport and Donaghadee will succeed.
“Ards and North Down Borough Council agreed in principle to undertaking an economic appraisal of the reservoir with a view to purchasing it.
“We want a Public Right of Way around the reservoir enshrined in law for us and generations to come.
“Today marks a leap forward in saving this incredible place. This is possibly the most important achievement I have had in the lifetime of this council.”