A RESIDENT who is fearful for the safety of children and pedestrians because of the danger from “light fittings that are hanging off pubic lighting poles and blowing in the wind,” is eager to see an active residents association set up to tackle outstanding issues on the sprawling Westbury housing estate in Corbally.
Claimed Paul Hennessy, Riverdale: “This is dangerous for children and pedestrians and Clare County Council or the developers don’t want to know about it”.
It has been widely reported in this newspaper that parts of the Westbury Estate remain unfinished and there are problems with poor public lighting, potholed roads, no play areas for children, etc.
Mr Hennessy, who has lived on the estate since 2004, also wants the council to commence remedial work.
Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab), said the residents bought their homes and the least they can expect is a proper service and maintenance.
“With winter now here, we are going to have a similar situation as last year, with burst pipes and the problem being ignored by the council.
“There are issues such as lighting, roads, footpaths, trees and residue left by developers who have abandoned the estates and I’ve got unsatisfactory replies to my queries from the council, which is just kicking the can down the road and appears to be reluctant to take on the management of these estates”.
Referring to an incident in which a resident fell on an uneven section of footpath, the councillor criticised the council’s reply that “two cones had been placed at the spot afterwards,” as hardly solving the problem.
In a report into the issue some months ago the Limerick Post carried the council’s response to calls to take the estate in charge, which stated that they will only do so when the developers have completed infrastructural problems, and that until that happens they are not responsible.
Added Cllr Fitzgerald: “The developer is in liquidation and I can’t see the liquidator tackling outstanding issues, but it is high time now for the council to take this part of the county seriously.
“The council voted that south-east Clare would remain in Clare when the Limerick boundary extension issue was coming to a climax – I’m now arranging a meeting with the Minister for Housing through the council to discuss this outstanding issue”.
In reply to a notice of motion submitted by Cllr Fitzgerald in March, the council confirmed that 78 claims were submitted in 2010, of which 46 related to potholes, and of which 24 had been dealt with.
It also confirmed that payments totalling €4,392.37 had been made on foot of the claims.
