LIMERICK Fianna Fáil Deputy Willie O’Dea has called on Limerick City and County Council to address “major problems” with the street surface in The Hermitage on the Mill Road, before someone is seriously injured.
“Following many requests from Iocal residents, I have made repeated representations to have The Hermitage estate taken in charge. At the very least, the council should carry out remedial works on the street surface which is littered with potholes and is one of the worst road surfaces I have seen in Limerick City,” he told the Limerick Post.
“The council has informed me that they cannot even confirm when the estate will be taken in charge as they are awaiting a water services report on the current condition of the estate. According to the Council, this Water Services report is scheduled to be submitted to the Planning Department within three months,” he explained.
The Limerick TD wants the local authority to take a more expedient approach to dealing with the issue as he feels there is the potential for serious accidents to occur unless something is done urgently “to deal with the appalling state of the street surface in the Hermitage Estate”.
“The residents of the Hermitage are paying their property tax which is supposed to go towards delivering services like adequate road surfaces. How can the Council justify taking property tax off these people and then not provide them with even the most basic of services?,” he asked.
According to a spokeswoman for Limerick City and County Council, the estate is currently being assessed for taking into charge.
“As it is not yet in the charge of Limerick City and County Council, funding has not been provided by the elected members in the 2016 Budget for such work.
If councillors approve taking it in charge they will need to provide a budget for upgrade and ongoing maintenance works for the roads, footpaths, public lighting, surface water and open spaces,” she explained.
by Alan Jacques
