Sarsfield Square residents have expressed their anger regarding a site on their estate, which has been left in a muddy and waterlogged condition for a number of weeks.
The situation has arisen due to the council’s attempts to deal with a long standing dumping issue at the location. Shortly before Christmas, 2017, the council utilised Government funding to remove an old wall on the estate, behind which lay years of rubbish and litter. The amount of litter was so great that it spilled across the length and breadth of a laneway at the back of residents’ houses, causing health and safety concerns.
Contractors began work to clear the area before Christmas. However, due to poor weather conditions work stopped prematurely, leaving the area a mucky and flooded mess, which residents say is both dangerous and an eyesore.
Local residents took to Facebook this week to complain about the condition of the site, and called on local representatives to take immediate action to remedy the situation.
The issue was then raised by Fianna Fáil councillor Frankie Keena at Monday’s meeting of the Athlone Municipal District.
District engineer, Pat Nally moved to assure residents of the estate that the contractor will return to finish the work as soon as weather permits, and that their concerns are not going unheard.
