| Council given deadline on derelict site |
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| Wednesday, 24 September 2008 | |
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HUNDREDS of residents across South Dublin have signed a petition demanding the redevelopment of a former shopping centre that has become a major eyesore after lying derelict for the last five years. The petition also calls on South Dublin County Council to compulsorily purchase the site at Greenhills near Tallaght for the benefit of the community if it has not been developed before the end of this month. The Labour Party has launched a mass campaign calling on the owner of the site to develop the shopping arcade on St James’s Road in Greenhills that has remained derelict since it was shut down after it was gutted by fire in 2003. Dermot Looney, who organised the petition, said his analysis of the local authority’s records show that the owner of the former shopping arcade has been granted planning permission to develop the site on five separate occasions over the last five years but has yet to carry out any work on the site. Mr Looney claimed that 300 residents have signed his petition which has been distributed to almost 1,500 homes in the Greenhills area. He added that the campaign has already met with huge support on the doorsteps. Local resident Bernie Healy, who lives on Limekiln Green, which is only 200 yards away from the site, said the fact that the shopping arcade has not been developed was a devastating loss to elderly people in the community. “It is a major loss to elderly people around here,” she said. “The local community is not able to provide the elderly with their needs for a local shop or a chemist. They have to travel over a mile away.” Cllr Eamon Keogh (Lab), who also lives within yards of the derelict site, said locals regarded it as an “eyesore” and he wanted to see it either developed or cleaned up. “It is really offensive to the community,” he said. “They are absolutely offended because this site is in the heart of the community.” Mr Looney said local spirit could not thrive in the area without what he described as a neighbourhood centre. “We cannot prosper when faced on a daily basis by neglect and dereliction,” he added. “We deserve better than more than five years of shabby boards, gruesome fencing and weeds; an eyesore that has come to define us. “We demand appropriate development of this site now and call on the council to compulsorily purchase it in the interests of our local community if building has not begun before September 30." The owner of the site could not be contacted for comment. A spokesman for South Dublin County Council said they had not officially deemed the site to be derelict. “Furthermore, the owner of the site has planning permission for it but we cannot compel him to develop it,” the spokesman said. |
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