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Residents demand end to boarded up houses

Tuesday, 29 April 2008

A BALBRIGGAN residents’ association has called on Fingal County Council to stop boarding up houses in their estate, as they feel it is making the area look rundown.
Cardy Rock residents say they are fed up with unoccupied council houses having their windows boarded up, as it blights their neighbourhood, pointing out that many commercial residences go unoccupied without boarded windows.
The issue will be addressed at a public meeting in which a Neighbourhood Watch scheme for the estate will be launched.
Officials from the council’s community and leisure department have been invited to attend the meeting to hear the complaints of the residents.
The residents’ committee’s complaints were outlined in a newsletter delivered to all 250 properties in the estate, which includes 40 per cent social and affordable housing.
According to the residents, there are currently three houses unnecessarily boarded up and they feel this makes the estate look bad.
“It might be council policy to board up unoccupied houses but it blights the neighbourhood,” the committee’s statement reads.
“Some private houses and apartments have remained safe when vacant for long periods without being boarded up.”
“We are asking Fingal County Council to review its ongoing policy in relation to boarding up vacant houses in Cardy Rock.”
Local resident Garrett Mullan claimed the council was making an area with a very active community and few social problems look like a “ghetto”.
“I live in a private house myself,” stated Mr Mullan.
“If I was trying to sell, anyone coming in might think the area is rundown or a dumping ground, but there are few major social problems in this area.”
In a statement to Northside People, the council confirmed that their current policy when a house is left unoccupied is to board up the windows and doors to ensure the house is left secure until it is re-let.
“As the level of repairs or re-fitting work required can vary from house to house, and prospective tenants may refuse the offer of property, thereby lengthening the process, it is difficult to estimate how long it may take to re-let the house,” a spokeswoman for the council said.
“The council believes that this is necessary to prevent any damage to the property, discourage vandals and reduce anti-social behaviour.
“In certain circumstances, houses are also boarded up when a tenant will be absent for a prolonged period of time in order to protect their possessions and the property.”

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