Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Northern Ireland Electricity Service sold its 1.3 acre site at the rear of Chesterbrook crescent, Newtownards, Co. Down, by private treaty or by public advertisement; whether any requests to purchase 605W parts of this site had been received by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service from adjoining householders; if adjoining householders were advised that the site was for sale; and if he will make a statement on the procedures implemented by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service in respect of the sale of this site.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Northern Ireland Electricity Service sold the site in question by private treaty following public advertisement.
In 1983, various people, including a public representative acting on behalf of local residents, expressed an interest in buying the land. At that time all inquirers were told that the land would not be placed on the market until after the completion of a road widening scheme.
The land was eventually offered for sale in October 1985 and, at that time, advertisements were placed in all editions of two local newspapers. A large hoarding was also erected on the land. Adjoining householders were not separately advised of the intended sale and, in the event, no offers were received from them. In undertaking the sale of this site, the Northern Ireland Electricity Service followed its normal practice, which is to sell to the highest bidder by means of private treaty following notice of its intention to sell.