Action has been called for to deal with a former business that has been left idle in the middle of a Laois town for a decade.
The state of the former Central Garage in Mountmellick was the focus of anger at a recent meeting of the Borris-In-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District.
The issue was raised by Fianna Fail Councillor Paddy Bracken who is a native of Mountmellick.
He called on Laois County Council to take action to deal with the site.
Cllr Bracken said: “It is a disgrace to see it lying idle there for over ten years.
“There are four dwellings lying idle and it is in the centre of a town that is crying out for development.
“There’s also four houses on that site that are derelict as well. The site is zoned Town Centre.
“It is a two-acre site right in the heart of the town along Emmett Street. Something must be done about it.
“There’s vandalism also going on it as well and it is prime land in the middle of the town.
“It’s frightening to think the great efforts that are being put into the town by the local Tidy Towns and to see that site in a shocking state of repair.”
Cllr Bracken received support on the matter from Independent Councillor Ollie Clooney.
He said: “It was a thriving business at one time, but that’s no longer the case. It’d be great to see something done about it.”
Cllr John King and Cllr Seamus McDonald echoed Cllr Bracken’s call and wished for the Council to put a Compulsory Purchase Order on the site.
In reply, Director of Services Angela McEvoy said: “The site has been inspected and correspondence will be issued to the owners.
“A report and recommendation will be further drawn up as to what course of action under the Derelict Sites Legislation to pursue.”
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