Properties in Mayo ghost estate are set to be demolished

PROPERTIES in a ghost estate on the outskirts of Castlebar look set to be demolished.

There are 77 units in the estate on the Ballinrobe Road, which has been left vacant for over a decade.

Mayo County Council has been working to progress the site, and the understanding now is that the units will have to be demolished, a housing committee meeting heard.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, who questioned the status of The Waterways estate, was told there is still dialogue happening around it.

Director of services Tom Gilligan told him: “It is progressing, not at the pace we would like, but there is progress happening on it.”

There are 77 units, said the councillor, and he wanted to know: “Where is the blockage.”

Mr. Gilligan said it is a very complex site. The units were at different stages of development and there were issues regarding legalities around access.

They were trying to unravel it.

Head of housing Simon Shevlin told the meeting: “From our understanding those units will have to be knocked.”

A private development, they had been left open to the climate over the last 10 to 15 years.

Councillor Kilcoyne said they had asked at the time that Mayo County Council would acquire it and sort it out.

The councillor received more positive news in relation to eight homes being built at Chestnut Grove in Castlebar.

An approved housing body had been involved but now the council is taking it over. It is hoped to have them all completed by the end of the year.