Residents to pay for grass cutting

RESIDENTS in 244 houses in one of the largest private housing estates in the Mid-West will be asked to contribute €40 apiece to fund grass-cutting, even though it has not been taken in charge by Clare County Council.
It was decided at a residents’ meeting in Westbury Church on Tuesday night, following a recent decision by Chieftain Construction Limited not to continue its grass cutting programme on green areas in Clonard and Riverdale.
However, a local county councillor has warned he will request Clare County  Council pay for the cost of the grass cutting, by recouping the money from the bond attached to the planning conditions for these estates.
Chieftain Construction Limited are continuing to cut grass in green areas in Bruach Lawn and An Grianán estates, which are not fully completed yet.
Senior executive engineer, Sean Lenihan, has confirmed that condition 24 of the permission for Clonard sought a bond to be put in place “to secure the provision and satisfactory completion and maintenance until taken charge by the council of the roads, footpaths, water mains, drains public open spaces”.
“A similar condition applies in the parent permission for Riverdale. Therefore, it would seem that the developer remains responsible for all maintenance until the council formally takes the estate in charge.”
Six quotations provided by private contractors were provided at the meeting and final figures will be presented once all the details of the submissions are made available.
The meeting was chaired by Councillor Cathal Crowe, who claimed the grass is now knee high. He also claimed the company believes it is up to the council to take Riverdale and Clonard in charge because all of the houses are completed in these two areas.
“I am very hopeful that we will be able to recoup the cost of this grass cutting from the bond attached to the planning permission. Residents are angry that the onus is being placed on them to cut the grass,” he said.
Frank Ryan was elected as the chairperson of a new residents’ committee, Councillor Crowe will act as secretary  and the treasurers will be Frank Ryan, Denis Creamer and Michael O’Donoghue.
Having met a representative of Chieftain Construction recently, Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said the company is proceeding with plans to withdraw from grass cutting in part of the Westbury estate due to a lack of  resources.
The company sent a letter to residents informing them of the change in the practice recently and Councillor Fitzgerald discussed the matter with representatives with a view towards securing a compromise, without any success.