by Kathy Masterson
LIMERICK City and County Council is to undertake a review of properties on the Dock Road following complaints about unsightly derelict buildings in the area.
At this month’s meeting of the Metropolitan District, Sinn Féin councillor Malachy McCreesh put forward a motion calling on the council to undertake the review “with regard to improving the unsightly appearance of this roadway”.
His fellow City West councillor Joe Leddin (Lab) criticised the appearance of the site of the Great Gas garage, which has been closed for several months, and said there were “a number of buildings on the left side in a poor state of repair”.
“There are some other business owners on the Dock Road, particularly car dealerships, who have very professional looking showrooms; if I was one of them I would not be happy with those buildings in decay,” he added.
Cllr Leddin also raised the issue of traffic islands and road signs in the area in need of refurbishment, and said: “These are small things that can make a huge difference, not only to people living in the city in terms of civic pride, but to visitors as well. Let’s go that extra mile as a council.”
Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler said the Dock Road “deserves due attention” as it was a key artery in and out of the city.
The City West councillor added that vacant warehouses in the area “look like something out of Chernobyl”.
The council’s deputy chief executive Pat Dowling told the meeting: “A review will be undertaken of the Dock Road and properties deemed to be unsightly will be investigated”.
Mr Dowling added that “notice can be served on the owners of these sites”.
Raising the issue of the council executives’ preallocation of the General Municipal Fund for each district this year without consulting local councillors, Cllr James Collins (FF) commented: “These type of works are the type that should have been in our discretionary budget.
“Unfortunately this discretionary money was non-discretionary as far back as October. This is an example of how the system fell down.”
In response, Mr Dowling said he expects the GMA issue will be rectified in the 2016 budget.
