Issues around east Mayo housing project raised

TWO issues relating to a new social housing development in Kiltimagh have been raised by local Councillor Adrian Forkan.

When will all the homes be allocated and when will local residents promised a sewer connection see their properties connected.

The estate was opened last November, with a big day, Councillor Forkan told the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council. Some of the homes are now occupied and people are asking why they have not all been allocated.

As part of the planning application, six houses across the road were to be connected to the main sewer in Kiltimagh. But the residents are still waiting.

“Why has it not been done,” he asked management. “Why are they not connected?”

He added how there is no path to the new estate and no pedestrian crossing. The path, he said, would have to go by those six houses but they weren't working with them to get their sewer connection.

Instead of a positive, the development, which had been welcomed with open arms, is now turning into a negative, he said.

On social housing generally, he said it's taking far too long to turn homes around when they become vacant.

It is hard to understand why it takes so long for them to be occupied again, he said.

Councillor Forkan cited one case where a house was done up a year to 18 months before it was vacated, and then it had to be done up again.

Why did stuff have to be torn out of a house when it was perfectly liveable.