Anti social behaviour creeps into Fairview Crescent
THE focus is on boarding up properties with no progress towards building new houses in the regeneration process to-date, fumes Cllr Joe Leddin.
He claims that not one sod has been turned so far or a brick laid in the construction of new housing
“I’d love to know how much has been spent by regeneration so far – maybe between 30 and 40million – but yet, not one house has been built and our housing estates are looking worse than ever. In my opinion, the regeneration agencies are just tinkering around the edges. The allocation of 28million for this year is now down to 20million euro, with 10 million of that going to the City Council housing programme”.
Pointing out that while the aim this year is to relocate 70 families, the councillor says there are plans to build just between 10 and 15 houses.
City Hall has confirmed that some 6.5million euro has been spent on the boarding up and demolition of houses, and the purchase of some 20 units.
“The council’s own housing programme is going nowhere, with priority being given to the regeneration agencies when a house is vacated. Overall, the allocation given is a pittance in terms of the 3.5billion master plan programme”.
In agreement that the regeneration programme is producing some very “serious issues,” Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon said that the boarding up of houses on St Mary’s Park is presenting illegal dumping on a scale that should not be tolerated in any civilised society.
Calling for measures to be taken without delay to prevent serious anti-social activity escalating in Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, he said:
“A blocked up house is attracting this kind of criminal activity – this is how it started in Moyross and we can’t allow it to develop in Garryowen.
“The courts will have to play their part in this – people will have to be evicted for this kind of activity in order to protect the majority of the community”.
