Eviction may be a fear facing some home-owners right now but in Ballyhaunis a worse fate awaits a number of families whose homes are set to be bulldozed to the ground by Mayo County Council.
The devastating news was revealed to members of Claremorris Electoral Area Committee this week when it was reported that a planning application by a major employer in the town to retain eight houses of a 29-house development had been refused. The next step in the process is enforcement by the council, according to a planning official.
Cllr Richard Finn said there was no point in beating around the bush and what was going to happen was that eight houses were to be ‘bulldozed to the ground’.
Senior planner Brendan Munnelly said the application by Mr Sher Rafique, Clare Road, Ballyhaunis, for the retention of the eight houses known as Sherwood Close bungalows, submitted on his behalf by Robert Kilkelly, had been deemed in contravention of planning and were found to be substandard and built in private open space. He outlined that retention had previously been sought for the houses and was also refused.
“Planning was never applied for and never granted for these units which were only discovered on a site visit in relation to a different application.”
Clarifying that the units had been in place since 2006 or 2007, Cllr John Cribben commented that this was a very unusual step for the council to take.
Cllr Richard Finn said while he could see the council’s position, because the development did not conform to building requirements, there would still be an onus on the council to re-house up to six families involved.
“We have a duty to provide alternative accommodation for these people and I will definitely be fighting the case before any enforcement takes place. This man Sher Rafique has contributed so much to the town of Ballyhaunis and the surrounding area, and given the times that are in it there are probably lots of other things built in the past that didn’t conform to standards of compliance.
“These people have contributed as rate-payers to Mayo County Council through the years and continue to do so and we have a duty to them.”
Cllr Damian Ryan said the irony was that the need to bring in enforcement at this point showed the department needed to be more vigilant in doing its job.
“This should never have got to this scenario and the Enforcement Office in the council has a lot to answer for. Unauthorised developments need to be inspected at an early date and should never be allowed to become proper dwellings.”
Cllr Michael Burke who is also newly appointed Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council said he would not like the message to go out from the meeting that people could build houses willy nilly and then expect to be rehoused once the council came in with enforcement procedures.
“Obviously it’s not a very good development - ordinary people have to apply for planning and abide by conditions and I wouldn’t want the idea going out that Mayo County Council would have to house people when they don’t.”
Cllr Richard Finn was aghast.
“I cannot believe this is your attitude. We are not talking about people who came overnight and squatted. These are indigenous people to Ballyhaunis, they work there and are raising families, there and we have a duty to house them.”
Senior executive officer Padraig Flanagan said whatever the outcome it should be noted there was a surplus of council houses available in Ballyhaunis at the moment.
