Green light for improvement works at 11 council houses

FOLLOWING the signing of contracts, the refurbishment and energy efficiency upgrade of 11 occupied houses in Wilson Road, Wood Road and Beech Park commenced on Monday.
In recent years, the town council had been trying to obtain approval from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to continue with improvement works in the John Paul Estate ever since phase one of the remedial works scheme was completed in July 2008.
Surveys have also been carried out on the remainder of the occupied local authority-owned houses in the estate, which require energy-efficiency improvement works and it is anticipated that a separate contract will commence for the refurbishment of these houses in the third quarter of 2011.
Commenting on the initiative, Kilrush Mayor Liam Williams said it was timely that the refurbishment of houses was taking place and acknowledged the national housing policy of focusing on the improvement of the council’s existing housing stock.
“Many of these houses were constructed more than 25 years ago and while they served their purpose at that time, they are now in need of enhancements, particularly in the energy-efficiency area. The tenants have exercised great patience in waiting for this day to arrive and I thank them for their forbearance and assistance in moving the project along. I look forward to the completion of the project and to an ongoing programme of renewal in John Paul Estate,” he said.
Works are also ongoing to restore what the council call ‘strategically vacated vacant housing stock’ back into housing stock. It is hoped that in the future, an enterprise centre will be built and that a wider programme of regeneration will be implemented.
In the meantime, Kilrush Town Council is to focus on refurbishing houses in a number of key areas within the estate, ensuring a better quality of life for the residents.
“Overall, I think that it is very positive to report the significant structural works currently underway and planned for John Paul Estate,” Kilrush town clerk John Corry said.
“Kilrush Town Council always felt that it was very important that after the successful completion of phase one of the remedial works that it would be very important that further works would be carried out in the estate as quickly as possible. We are now at the stage where the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government have provided the necessary funding for these essential works and we greatly acknowledge this support. I think that it is very significant for the estate and indeed for the town that significant improvements are now taking place in the estate. Kilrush Town Council will also continue to support the social improvement of the estate through its work with various bodies and agencies located within the town,” John Corry added.