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County council set to take charge of Westbury


Clare County Council expects to take the Westbury estate in charge in the first quarter of the new year.
Councillors Cathal Crowe and Pascal Fitzgerald tabled a joint motion at Tuesday’s Killaloe Electoral Area council meeting calling on the director of services for planning to give a comprehensive update and expected timescale for the taking in charge of the Westbury estate.
In a formal reply to the motion Ger Dollard director of services for planning, community and enterprise and economic development stated, “Our best assessment at this point is that, subject to a satisfactory outcome with the bondholder, that the overall process will be completed in the first quarter of 2013”.
He outlined that the council “has assigned considerable resources” to deal with issues relating to the taking in charge of Westbury development and that the estate is on an extensive list of estates not taken in charge by the council for a variety of reasons.
“There are a range of complexities on many of these estates and the council is endeavouring to work through issues to lead towards a resolution. Westbury has remained a priority for the council in this regard.
“There are two primary developers on the development, both of whom are in receivership and liquidation. In addition there is an overall “holding” company that is in ownership of lands but is also in liquidation. A further complication is a section of the overall development that is under the control of a separate receiver. The council’s primary contact has been with the bondholder for the development and a series of detailed technical discussions and assessments has been in train. The council fully accepts that the bondholder has responded in a bona fide way and furthermore has expended in excess of €130,000 on necessary works on the development in recent months,” he outlined.
According to Mr Dollard the council is of the view that negotiations are at this point reaching their final stages. He added that subject to a satisfactory outcome it would then be the council’s intention to proceed with the statutory processes for the taking in charge of the relevant sections of this development.
“The council will need to obtain clarity on processes to be followed given the complex structure that arises from multiple receiverships/liquidations and the unfinished element of the development. This is currently being assessed,” he said.
The director of services explained that any funds received from the bondholder will be targeted at remedying serious deficiencies in infrastructure, particularly wastewater treatment which requires very significant investment. He said a priority works listing for infrastructure is currently being prepared and other works will be considered as part of normal work programmes on foot of any taking in charge.
“At present the council has no status or responsibility for the Westbury development. The current discussions are being conducted in the context of the council’s role as planning authority and as holder of the bonds for the development. A successful completion of a taking in charge process will give a foundation to address issues within this development over the long term,” Mr Dollard said.
He added that while he was aware of requests for meetings to be held with residents on the development he said “such meetings are inappropriate until the present round of negotiations with the bondholder is completed”.
“It is my intention to brief area members on final outcomes and at that point a meeting can be arranged with representatives of the residents,” he concluded.
Commenting at the meeting, Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said this was a comprehensive response to the joint motion and that it was a 27-year-old issue that has now “finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel”.
Councillor Cathal Crowe said this was the first time that a potential date has been given and that the reply was “extremely positive”.

 

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