This article is from page 21 of the 2012-09-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
RESIDENTS of the Beechpark estate in Ennis have not seen any improvement in local services in almost 35 years as Clare County Council was forced to spend a “huge amount of resources” on a nearby Traveller accommodation site.
The contrast in spending was highlighted at yesterday’s meeting of councilors in the Ennis West Electoral Area.
Cllr Tony Mulqueen (FG) told the meeting that there are 22 houses in Beechpark.
He said one of the residents has lived there for 32 years and has not seen any investment to solve problems with street lighting, footpaths and potholes.
Cllr Mulqueen added that in that same period the council has spent huge resources on maintenance and security costs at the nearby Beechpark Traveller accommodation site, which was the subject of arson attacks in 2010.
Cllr Mulqueen was also critical of the National Roads Authority whom he said had failed to carry out repairs to the estate entrance following work on the N85 Western Relief Road.
He was speaking on a motion tabled by Cllr James Breen (Ind). Cllr Breen called on the council to finish and take over the Beechpark estate “in view of the fact that the council has drawn down the bond for close to 30 years”.
Cllr Breen told the meeting that it was his information that had a bond had been drawn down.
However, in her response, Helen Quinn, Senior Executive Planner, explained that a review of the bond database has been carried out and there is no record of a bond having been drawn for this development. Ms Quinn stated that the council is currently reviewing all planning applications that relate to the development to establish if the bond was attached to any element of the site.
She continued, “From the planning files that have been reviewed thus far, which includes the original applications dating back to 1976, 1977, it is noted that no bond conditions were attached. (It is noted that such conditions were attached re: the payment of contributions towards the expenditure being occurred by the council in improving the public water supply in the area to facilitate the development.)
She added, “However it is also noted that the majority of houses appear to have been developed by each individual owner as opposed to a developer. The development is not therefore a development in the conventional sense but a group of individual houses developed by owners of individual sites. The council will examine the history further to ascertain what is the appropriate course of action.”
Town Manager Ger Dollard said the introduction of household and septic tank charges has led residents to demand services from local authorities.
He said there are a number of estates across Clare in a similar situation to Beechpark.
The meeting heard that the council would raise the matter with the NRA.