Munster Express Online

Waterford County Council has set up an in-house ‘Unfinished Housing Estates’ team to deal specifically with unfinished ‘ghost’ housing estates across the county, a Council meeting heard in Dungarvan.

The new team will assist in the completion of housing developments and ensure a good living environment for residents as well as remedying some of the ongoing difficulties experienced by tenants on unfinished estates.

The Council has created a register of unfinished estates and has conducted assessments of developments with a view to preparing a detailed site resolution plan with developers, receivers and residents. A priority work programme is now in place for unfinished estates.

Work has already commenced on nine unfinished estates making buildings safe, connecting public lighting and providing footpaths.

Cllr Pat Daly (FF) proposed the taking-in-charge of the Clarinwood and Ballycarnane housing estates in Tramore which were to be declared public roads. The matter had taken a long time to finish.

Deputy Director of Services, Gabriel Hynes, said the Council received 73 requests to take estates in charge. It was hoped to take 12 in charge in the next months and a further 20 in 2012. It was slow progress.

Cllr Joe Conway (I) said the two Tramore estates were a credit to the residents and the developers.

The Council has agreed to re-examine safety issues arising from estates at Knocknagranagh and Ballinroad in Dungarvan.