PEOPLE living on Bowman Street and adjoining streets, should be allowed to develop a community garden and allotment area on a half-acre site designated for sheltered accommodation. This is the contention of Valerie O’Connor who lives on Bowman Street, close to Vizes Court, where the second phase of Limerick City Council’s construction of sheltered accommodation is planned to commence shortly.
The development of 35 units in a new three storey-building in Vizes Court, would result in the council providing a total of some 55 units of housing in the area for older people and those with disabilities.
With similar housing planned for the old Clothing Factory site on Edward Street, this would result in over 100 such units in this city southside area
“We are one of the few councils in the country to develop such small estates,” says Cllr Joe Leddin.
However, Ms O’Connor, who claims that a notice advising of procedures to be followed if a member of the pubic wished to make an objection to the development was “wrapped around a tree, says:
“The council will knock down the beautiful trees on the green to make room for the apartment building. They have already demolished the cottages that used to be there and they applied top soil twice and then grassed the area. We’ve received no support for retention of the green area as a community garden from our local councillors, but Cllr Tom Shortt sees great merit in it”.
Cllr Leddin, who disagrees with Ms O’Connor’s proposal, said he will request a meeting with City Hall’s Kieran Lehane and the planning Department to explore the possibility of “building links and a new community relationship” that will allow the people of Bowman Street, which adjoins the green, to participate in cultivating and enjoying a communal back garden and allotment on a section of land adjacent to Phase One of the Vizes Court development.
He pointed out, however, that the development, for which between €7 and €10million is coming from the Department of the Environment, will create jobs and bring money to the local economy on a small but welcome scale.
“There will be such goods as furniture, fixtures and fittings, domestic appliances, etc, etc, needed,” he concluded.
Dismissing Cllr Leddin’s suggestion, Ms O’Connor said: “I feel we are being victimised – the little people are not being listened to.”
