THERE needs to be more community consultation from Limerick City and County Council before decisions are made that impact local areas.
That’s according to Sinn Fein councillor John Costelloe who was commenting following the local authority’s decision to knock the weir wall at New Road in Thomondgate.
“I received numerous calls this week from local residents angry to have been woken to the knocking of this wall. Concerns were expressed regarding how this decision could impact on them with fears of increased dumping and antisocial behaviour in the area,” Cllr Costelloe told the Limerick Post.
He went on to say that many of these fears have since been allayed following a recent residents meeting.
The Sinn Fein councillor also praised the two council officials in attendance for their willingness and ability to address the concerns of those present.
“While their attendance was greatly appreciated, it is regrettable that such a consultation wasn’t held prior to the commencement of works on the weir. There remains a frustration in the area that such a location, straddling the river, remains in a condition of disrepair.
“At a time when we are trying to highlight our city to international tourists, it seems remiss of the council to leave such an idyllic river bank location in such a condition. We hope now that the council will commence consultation with residents in the area to determine how to utilise this location for the betterment of the local community and the city more generally.”
In response, Limerick City and County Council revealed it has undertaken small scale environmental works in the area in order to eliminate blind spots, which have been a source of anti-social behaviour in the locality.
“The works, which will include landscaping and a public mural, will also help improve the visual appearance of the site and to open up a view to the historic weir building. These follow work to the Thomond Weir building last year to clean the façade and remove material from the building itself which had become an attraction for nefarious activity,” a council spokesman explained.
“As part of the works in this area, Limerick City and County Council plans to refurbish 73 and 76 New Road, which are currently vacant and in a poor state of repair. Returning these types of building to use is one of the key objectives of the government’s Rebuilding Ireland plan.”
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