Three homes in Mayo estate at risk of collapsing
Independent Clr Christy Hyland has said that ‘common sense needs to prevail’ as three properties in the town are at risk of collapsing.
A Westport councillor has said that ‘common sense needs to prevail’ as three properties in the town are at risk of collapsing.
Monument View, which is built on an embankment, is now at risk of falling into the nearby Mill Street car park.
Independent Cllr Christy Hyland told last week's meeting of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that there is still no solution to the situation at Monument View.
Cllr Hyland raised the issue at October’s meeting, where he was told that it is a private estate which is still owned by the original developer.
The housing estate which was originally built in 1991, was given planning permission under the condition that a concrete retaining wall be constructed. However, it is instead being held up by a brick wall, built on top of a stone wall.
“As we’re speaking, with the wet weather and everything, the road is collapsing in front of the three houses due to non-construction of a the concrete wall,” Cllr Hyland said.
“I’m asking Mayo County Council to engage in the legal process because this can be solved but people need to come to the table, sit down and common sense to prevail and alleviate the stress that the three homeowners are going through.
“It's not in your charge but the development should not have taken place until the reinforced concrete wall was put in place and then where the planning enforcement people in Mayo County Council? Because this is very stressful, this is a situation where these three houses are unsellable.
“I'm not exaggerating, there's a bit of slippage every day and every week, so you can see the footpath coming away further towards the car park. A lot of people with local knowledge wouldn't drive into that road, but I can see someone from outside the town driving in there and that road collapsing.”
Head of the district, Padraic Walsh said the issue is the subject of legal correspondence, and he was restricted what he could say, but that the estate is not in the Council’s charge and the responsibility lies with the developer.
