The purchase of vacant properties at an estate in which houses were vandalised in Portlaoise has been prioritised by Laois County Council.
At the recent meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley had a motion asking the council to bring forward the plan for Hepburn Court, the Squash Centre and the field at the rear of Knockmay.
In a response, Michael Rainey, SEO Housing outlined: “It is the intention of the housing department to bring forward plans at the earliest opportunity. There are still a number of key sites within the development that are not in Laois County Council ownership and that will be the priority objective over the coming months”.
Hepburn Court was privately built in 2004 on the Ballyfin road.
Many of the houses there were bought by investors to rent out. However, the estate was beset with vandalism and some of the properties there had to be demolished.
“The council has poured money in there,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley.
The gates at both end of the field nearby have been removed and kids are rallying there in cars, she said.
Dreadful
“The residents want to see a permanent solution,” she said. “It just looks dreadful at the moment,” she added.
“Whatever we can do to get those houses into council ownership, we need to try,” Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said.
“People living on the Ballyfin Road are worn out with antisocial behaviour,” she added.
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