At the most recent meeting of Carrickmacross Town Council Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy again called for a comprehensive strategy to deal with what he described as a ‘growing problem with derelict and vacant houses in residential areas and estates’.
Cllr. Carthy made reference to a meeting he had with residents in one particular part of the town recently. Cllr. Carthy explained the frustration of people who lived in an area who kept their own homes and gardens in immaculate conditions, worked together to keep communal spaces in good order, but who felt their efforts were hampered because a single house was left unattended. That one house, he said, could be the cause of huge annoyance but also can be the cause of devaluation of property and in extreme cases can attract rodents.
The Sinn Féin representative said that local residents were rightfully demanding that the council take action against the owners of derelict houses in order to force them to either carry out necessary maintenance work or to sell them as he felt some of the properties he was speaking about were owned by speculators who were simply awaiting an upturn in the market. That is fair enough, he said, but neighbouring property owners shouldn’t be the ones to suffer. If properties in question are not improved then the council should compulsory purchase them in the public interest.
Cllr. Carthy has asked the council to be proactive on those derelict properties that have been brought to its attention and he informed the members that he would continue to press this issue until the problem was resolved.
