'Profound disappointment' - Mayo County Council release statement on Ballina fire
The council wishes to thank the Mayo Fire Service and other emergency services for their swift response to the fire.
Mayo County Council wishes to express its profound disappointment following the fire that occurred at the former Duffy’s Bakery site on the Foxford Road in Ballina yesterday evening, Monday, July 21st.
In a statement, Mayo County Council said that they purchased the property for the purpose of providing much needed additional housing in the town and the council can categorically state that this property was only ever intended to provide housing for persons on the Mayo County Council Social Housing list.
"This development was intended to provide own door accommodation for the growing section of the population who are seeking one- and two-bedroom units located within walking distance of the town centre, with the facilities and services that come with such a location."
At their July meeting held last week, the elected members of the Ballina Municipal District approved the development of the scheme which would have provided 31 new homes to families and persons on the housing list. At present, there are 631on the housing list in the Ballina Municipal District.
The planned development would see the construction of 31 own-door-access apartments, comprising of 3 No, three-bed units; 14 No, two bed units, 14 No, one-bed units, along with the refurbishment of the existing terrace at 5-7 Raheen Row.
The architects’ section of Mayo County Council had developed an attractive scheme that proposed the renovation of 3 No, three storey units which were the subject of the fire and two thoughtfully designed blocks of apartments, which would add to the vibrancy of the streetscape at this visible location on the busy approach street to the town.
The scheme includes access from Kevin Barry Street and James Connolly Street. The proposal includes all associated site development works including footpaths, cycle lane, parking, public lighting, boundary works, landscaping, associated earthworks, utilities, services connections, drainage with connections to public mains and associated ancillary works.
The Housing Section of Mayo County Council are now assessing the impact of the destruction of the fire and will begin working on a timeframe or the feasibility of delivering on the recently approved 31-unit housing scheme and providing much needed homes for those on the social housing list.
The council wishes to thank the Mayo Fire Service and other emergency services for their swift response to the fire, which they brought under control and ensured that damage was kept to a minimum.
Traffic management at the location will remain in place until structural assessments are completed on the buildings.
The circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire is currently being investigated by An Garda Síochána.
