Safety concerns mounting at Glenties housing estate

Clos Naomh Conaill is an accident waiting to happen according to residents.

FRESH calls have been made for the Council to address mounting safety concerns at a housing estate in Glenties, amid claims hazardous conditions are threatening the safety of its residents.

Up to 20 families live on Clos Naomh Conaill estate in Glenties, and, according to local representatives, the state of the area outside their homes is an ‘accident waiting to happen’.

Photographs provided to this newspaper show ground work outside some of the homes is sinking. There are also large holes in the ground and raised areas around the estate.

Local Councillor and Chair of Glenties Municipal District, Micheál Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig, along with community activist, Liam Whyte, are calling on the local authority to take immediate action to remedy the situation which, they say, is impacting upon the lives and wellbeing of residents.

“There’s a huge percentage of the estate sinking, both the footpaths and the infrastructure all around. The infrastructure right across from the town itself to take away the surface/storm water has sunk, broke and cracked areas. Huge investment is needed,” said Cllr MacGiolla Easbuig.

“Myself, Liam and Thomas Pringle have been working on the issue for some time. After nearly a year, we’ve given the Council ample time.”

The houses were built over ten years ago and it is believed a section of the housing estate was built on bog land.

Mr Whyte said he can’t understand how planning permission for the estate was ever given the green light.

“Questions need to be asked as to how planning permission was allowed to go ahead for social housing in that case. Massive investment will be needed in order to bring it up to level.

“The houses were built over a decade ago, I am an electrician and I remember doing some work up there at the time.”

Mr Whyte told of how a problem with sewers in the area was recently addressed by Council, but there remains serious outstanding issues of safety.

“There had been really awful smells around the area which were seeping into homes and fair play to the Council they did resolve that.

“I know Council is trying to come up with the funds to address the ongoing problems, but it will need massive investment. They (the Council) have been helpful when we have approached them, but with over half of the houses in the area affected it will need a huge financial boost.

“There are kids playing outside amid big holes in the street. It’s a hazard.”

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