Fairways clean-up welcomed

WORKS on securing Ennis’ controversial Fairways apartments, described as a “haven for anti-social behaviour”, were carried out this week. A contractor working on behalf of the owner of the property was on site on Tuesday. The apartments, near Marian Avenue, have been widely criticised in recent weeks, with claims of drug use, squatting and other forms of anti-social behaviour at the site near a popular playground.
While efforts have been made to secure and clean around the building, Councillor Brian Meaney insisted, “this is not the end of the problem”. He described anti-social behaviour at the site over the weekend as “outlandish” saying this week’s work at the apartment block does not go far enough.

Councillor Meaney welcomed what he called the “small improvement” saying it was a result of  pressure from local representatives and the efforts of Ennis’ town manager Ger Dollard. However, he added that the “bare minimum” has been done and “it is far from over”.

“This building and others in the area are still derelict. Abandoned buildings are associated with a variety of societal, economic and environmental ills,” he commented.

He warned, “We are facing a storm. There is an economic crisis, where people aren’t able to maintain their properties and those properties fall into disrepair. A malaise can establish in an area with a lot of delapidation and decaying business premises and that is not good for any community.

“The beginning of this malaise has to be nipped in the bud. I welcome this first action by the owners but we have derelict sites and dangerous buildings legislation and we need to engage proactively. There is quite strong legislation there and the council has serious powers.”

Ennis Town manager Ger Dollard said the council will continue to monitor the site and engage with the owners. “Ennis Town Council has been pursuing issues relating to this building and had served notices relating to Dangerous Structures and under the Derelict Sites Act.

“We welcome the fact that the owners appointed contractors on Tuesday to secure the building and to clean up the site. We had received strong representations from Ennis councillors on the matter, as the building had become a haven for antisocial behaviour in the area, due to its neglected state.

“Council staff will continue to monitor the site and engage with the owners as necessary to ensure that any issues are addressed.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Tony Mulqueen said he is happy to see the owners tidying up and securing the building after he submitted a petition with 130 signatures of local residents calling for works to be carried out.

Councillor Mulqueen said every house in the area, as well as commercial premises, were visited and all 130 people who were visited signed the petition.

“There’s a lot of graffiti on the property but also on neighbours property on the laneway. The residents were complaining of antisocial behaviour.

“There were loads of cans of beer, and every sort of thing, god forbid someone died in there, if a fire started there, the cost of bringing out the fire brigade,” Councillor Mulqueen said.

He added that although there was no evidence of a fire being lit in or around the building, he said the litter created a risk.

“There are rats up around there, and litter, graffiti, antisocial behaviour and people congregating up there. Businesses in the area are very conscious of it.

“We’re in the Tidy Towns and the judging is going on at the moment and this is one hell of an eyesore. Some of them are quite elderly and then you have a playground across the road.

“What the neighbours want is cameras like the ones in the town so if there is any antisocial behaviour, the gardaí can go in. They just wanted the mess to be tidied up,” he said.

Councillor Mulqueen added, “I’m delighted to see that work has been done, they have put up plywood. It is a step in the right direction”.

However, he wondered why it has it taken so long for it to get to this stage.