Ballina estate takeover remains in limbo
Quignalecka Housing Estate in Ballina.
Mayo Co Council has said the developer of the Quignalecka housing estate on the Sligo Road in Ballina has a responsibility to residents to complete outstanding maintenance works before the local authority will take charge of the estate.
The issue was raised at the September meeting of the Ballina Municipal District when Cllr Marie-Thérèse Duffy asked if costings for outstanding works had been sent to the developer and if a taking-in-charge report has been made available.
Director of Services Catherine McConnell said the council had issued “numerous updates” to the developer regarding works that need to be done.
“To clarify, there is no delay or action that we can take. The onus is on the developer to do the work that is outstanding to bring it up to the standard for taking in charge,” she said.
Ms McConnell said the developer had been given the necessary information and that the council can’t use public money to complete the outstanding works.
“It is not our job to give them costings, it is our job to put in place the standards they got planning permission on, make it up to that standard, then we can take it in charge. They are not out of business, they are an active developer. We can't spend public money to rectify mistakes of a developer who is actively building. They know what to do, the ball is with them.” â
Taking charge of Quignalecka has been raised repeatedly at Ballina Municipal District Meetings, with councillors highlighting ongoing maintenance issues in the estate that are not being addressed and the urgent need for the council to intervene.
These issues have included overhanging trees falling into the road and preventing bin lorries from collecting rubbish, potholes, and lighting problems.
Councillors have also said residents who bought their homes almost 20 years ago did so with the expectation that the council would take charge of the estate, and that this was reflected in the price they paid.
“Unfortunately, the residents are the ones suffering, but they need to put pressure back on the person they paid money to for that development,” Ms McConnell added. “The council can only do so much. The developer has a responsibility to those residents.”
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
