Residents want Ardnacrusha estates takeover

CLARE County Council may be willing to take over two Ardnacrusha housing estates, apart from the operation and maintenance of the sewerage treatment plant, according to a local county councillor.
Residens in Keelgrove and Ballyglass have already met South East Clare councillors to make a case for the public taking in charge of these estates.
A liquidator was appointed to Keelgrove Construction Limited last November, presenting householders with a new challenge when it comes to dealing with maintenance issues in the estate. There are in the region of 150 houses in total between the two estates.
Senior executive engineer Hugh McGrath explained the local area office and the planning department are assessing the implications of a public takeover taking into concern the value of planning bonds.
While he said the council would like to be in position to take over at least a portion of the estate, Mr McGrath pointed out the council had to go through a statutory procedure to ascertain the full cost and liabilities that would arise from a takeover.
Once this assessment is fully completed, the council will be in a better position to outline its plans for these estates.
Councillor Michael Begley said he understood the county council has already completed a snag list, which it is to present to the liquidator in the coming weeks and presumed most of the outstanding works should be financed from planning bonds.
He said he believed the council is prepared to take over the estate, excluding the sewerage treatment plant, which the authority hopes would be dealt by a new management company. He expects this would pose problems for householders who would have to bear the ongoing cost of maintaining and carrying out routine quality checks.
When homeowners first purchased their properties, he noted they had no expectation or reason to believe they would have to pay for the cost of maintaining the sewerage treatment plant at a future date.
Residents’ association chairman, Tom Brown, said householders want the council to publicly take in charge roads, footpaths, public lighting and the sewerage treatment plant.
Residents paid about €2,000 last year to repair broken lights but Mr Brown believes there isn’t a major amount of outstanding works to be completed in the estates. He said the committee would be happy to put forward a delegation to meet council officials and councillors to progress this issue.
He is being supported by Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald who has called for meetings to be held between councillors, officials and residents, if possible, once a month to fast-track the taking in charge process.
Councillor Cathal Crowe has written to senior council officials seeking a cross-directorate meeting to discuss how matters are progressing on the matter.
“Following the recent successful take over of the Westbury estate by Clare County Council I am now hoping to initiate a process that might lead to the estates of Keelgrove and Ballyglass in Ardnacrusha being taken over.
“Clare County Council has agreed to facilitate this meeting and it is expected that a delegation of residents will soon be invited to a meeting with council officials and Killaloe Electoral Area councillors.
“Council officials very much see this meeting as an opportunity to brief the residents and councillors on the current state of play in Keelgrove and Ballyglass but I plan on using the opportunity to probe the possibilities of having Keelgrove and Ballglass taken over by Clare County Council,” he stated.