A LABOUR councillor who first drew attention to the negative effects that boarded up houses were having on both the housing estates concerned and neighbouring residents, has been given an assurance from senior officials in City Hall that serious consideration is now being given to reletting rather than boarding up empty properties.
Councillor Joe Leddin, the newly elected chairman of the council’s Housing Committee, was the first elected representative to urge City Hall officials to resist indiscriminate boarding up of houses, in favour of carrying out inexpensive repair work and reletting the properties to suitable tenants.
Last week, the Limerick Post reported on the stand that residents of Carew Park adopted on the issue, and this week, Cllr Leddin, who recently met with them, said he is pleased to have been given a commitment from senior housing officials that “progress is being made in assessing the level of work required to unboard a number of houses in regeneration estates and in particular, in Carew Park.
‘The Carew Park residents had been telling me of their genuine fear for their community, arising from boarded up houses as unoccupied properties attract anti social activity, dumping of rubbish and by virtue of being boarded up, they give a very poor and depressing appearance to the housing estate they are on.
“By reletting the houses, a home will be provided to someone currently in need of housing from our city’s waiting list and will simultaneously improve the overall appearance of the estate, increase the sense of security and safety for existing residents and lift their morale”.
Voicing the generally felt concern that, given the grim state of the economy, funding for the regeneration programme may be jeopardised, Cllr Leddin concluded it is vital that steps are taken to stabilise and improve communities and also to resolve issues that are seriously reducing the quality of people’s lives locally.
