Derry householders facing ‘enforcement action’ over failure to display house numbers

Householders in Derry have been warned they could face ‘enforcement action’ if they fail to properly display their house numbers.

It comes after concerns were raised that both taxi men and postal workers are experiencing difficulties in finding homes due to numbers being missing from properties.

The issue was raised at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane’s District Council’s Business and Culture committee, after elected members approved street naming and postal numbering for 16 new dwellings at a site within Mansfield Grove, Ballyarnett, Derry, which will be called Mansfield Close.

Speaking at the meeting, the UUP’s Derek Hussey said there had been complaints from taxi drivers and post men about the number of houses in the council district missing numbers.

“It is council policy that people must number premises in a manner approved by council,” Alderman Hussey said.

“It has been brought to my attention that a number of houses in the council area do not have numbers displayed.

“If someone fails to do this, then council can issue them with a notice which they have to comply with within seven days.”

“Has council ever done this?” Alderman Hussey asked, before adding there had been complaints from both ‘post men and taxi drivers’ about the problem.

Responding, Karen Phillips, Head of Environmental Services with council, said while enforcement action was an option available to council, neither the old Strabane District Council or Derry City Council had to ‘take enforcement action’ over missing house numbers.

She added that council had been able to ‘resolve the matter informally,’ before adding that a geographical information system (GIS) would soon be in place locally that would give the emergency services the ‘proper information’ on house locations.

The DUP’s David Ramsey said council could issue an appeal through its marketing department urging people to ensure they had a house number displayed.

“It’s not asking for a lot, just that people make sure they number their houses so other people can do their job,” he added.