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Hopes dashed as O’Devaney talks fail

Thursday, 03 July 2008

HOPES have faded in relation to the regeneration O’Devaney Gardens after two weeks of negotiations failed to provide a ray of light to devastated locals.
The talks were the last chance of hope for local residents who are desperately awaiting the much-needed regeneration.
Last week over 150 tenants received confirmation that the social housing project they have waited over 10 years for is unlikely to proceed under developer Bernard McNamara’s firm.
“To date, the council and McNamara have failed to make progress on the issues concerned,” the council stated in a circular to tenants.
“And, taking into account the complicated nature of those issues, the city council is not optimistic that solutions will be found which would allow the regeneration to proceed in line with the project agreement.”
Locals say the news is a particularly brutal blow as earlier this month the council expressed hope that the O’Devaney project would not be scrapped.

“Two of the five PPP projects, namely Convent Lands and O’Devaney Gardens, involving McNamara and Co, may go ahead as planned,” said Assistant City Manager Ciarán McNamara at the time.
“Some progress has been made with the developer since the last council meeting in relation to these projects.”
According to Ruth Murray of the O’Devaney Regeneration Office, the news is a crushing blow to the area.
“It is terribly disappointing that no resolution could be found,” she told Northside People.
“We all thought there would be some light at the end of the tunnel but now the bubble has been well and truly burst.
“We have no idea what the next step is and we’re not sure if the council does either.”
She added: “A lot of people have put up with living in poor conditions thinking that it wouldn’t be long before their new homes were built. Now they have been left with nothing.”
Local councillor Emer Costello (Lab) called on the council to come up with a plan B.
“It’s crucial that it comes up with another strategy; we need some indication that there are alternative ways of seeing this project through,” she said.
“It’s unlikely that the project will go ahead but yet the council seems adamant that four flat blocks will be demolished as planned.
“Residents are obviously very concerned that they will be left with a big gaping whole where the blocks once were, which will create another eyesore in the area and add to anti-social behaviour.”
According to Cllr Costello, the area is crying out for the promised face-lift.
“The living conditions are poor and residents are bearing the brunt of a serious lack of investment in O’Devaney,” she said.
“The entire situation is very bleak indeed.”

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