There have been calls made for a Castlebar town residents’ association which would lobby the town council on vital issues which are of concern to estates. The umbrella association would represent the needs of all streets and housing estates in Castlebar.
The call has come from Labour’s Harry Barrett, who is an advocate of residents’ associations, following the reforming of the McHale Road Residents’ Association. Mr Barrett has applauded Castlebar’s oldest street in electing new officers and has encouraged other streets and housing estates to do likewise.
He explained why: “The residents of McHale Road are showing the way in terms of revamping their committee to liaise with the town council. Residents’ associations are very important in the development of the town and I want to make a call for the establishment of a town residents’ association to represent the needs of all streets and housing estates. Many issues still remain outstanding for families in Castlebar and pressure from a town residents’ association would certainly help to push for the takeover of more estates, play areas, cycle lanes and policing to name but a few areas in which it could be effective.”
Mr Barrett has also stated that he wants action on estates that remain unfinished. He has welcomed the appointment of a second engineer to Castlebar town council and said the issue of unfinished estates should be firmly placed at the top of his or her job description.
“In other countries planning is enforced at the building phase by council officials, in England they are called a Clerk of Works. This doesn’t happen in Castlebar, and as a result we have had many young couples and unfortunate house buyers left in the lurch with houses and estates not being properly finished.
“In many cases, the problem builder has been allowed to move onto the next site, often with a new planning permission from the same local authority with which he is in dispute over an unfinished estate.
“It is our view that a second town engineer could speed up this awful legal minefield and he/she could recommend planning refusals, the non-return of bonds or the initiation of legal action against the minority of builders out there that do a poor job.”
This view was reinforced by Councillor Johnnie Mee, who said: “This issue has been raised again and again by many residents’ associations in the town. I will continue to fight for a speedier resolution to their problems and having a second town engineer will certainly help matters.”
