Councillor insists lessons must be learned over unfinished estates

Lessons must be learned from the debacle that saw two large estates in Tuam left unfinished by the developers – before builders’ bonds were used to complete the works years later.

Cllr Shaun Cunniffe’s warning came after works were eventually completed in the estates where there are around 400 houses; one of them has now been taken in charge by Galway County Council and the other will be done so in a matter of weeks.

A meeting of Tuam Municipal Council was told that it was vital that cash bonds be put in place – as opposed to land-swaps – when planning permission is granted to cover the works in the event of estates not being completed.

Residents in Cois na hAbhainn and Lissadyra, off the Ballygaddy Road in Tuam, has spent the past eight years trying to get their estates up to such a standard that they will be taken over by Galway County Council for future maintenance.

Members of the Tuam area were informed that the Cois na hAbhainn estate was now being taken in charge by the County Council – works had been completed to a sufficient standard to allow this to happen.

Cllr Cunniffe explained that there were problems with lighting, road surfaces, the sewerage system and water infrastructure within the estate after the houses were built.

He said that issues regarding the estate have been ongoing for the past eight years along with its sister estate in Lissadyra over works not being completed by the developer.

The independent councillor said that it was great work by the residents and Galway County Council who, between them, managed to have the builder’s bond released that enabled the outstanding works to be completed.

“In fairness to the Council, they took the street lights in charge and liaised with the ESB to ensure that they remained switched on. The problems were so great that even the footpaths began to deteriorate.

“But thankfully all of the issues have now been resolved and the Council is confident in taking charge of this estate. But lessons have to be learned going forward.

“There are some builders who are putting up parcels of land as their bond but this should no longer be acceptable because some of these properties have no value. It has to be cash and nothing else,” Cllr Cunniffe added.

Cllr Karey McHugh said that there was a lot of work behind the scenes to bring this estate up to a standard that the Council would take it over.

She said that while there was a major shortage of housing in Tuam, it was important that the Council ensure that when planning permission is granted that estates are finished to a high standard.

“These estates that we are talking about were left in a very poor state and there should be a mechanism in place to hold developers responsible for their completion. Otherwise they should be taken to task,” Cllr McHugh said.

The estates at Elm Court on the Weir Road and Cricket Fields on the Dunmore Road in Tuam have also been taken in charge by the Council.