'Squatters back again' in Portlaoise housing site with 'terrified' neighbours

The site of a demolished house in Portlaoise town centre is once again attracting squatters that have neighbours "terrified".

The former house in a large site on the N80 Mountmellick Road is at the front of Beechfield housing estate.

Neighbours are afraid that illegal fires will spread over the boundary wall and explode their oil tanks.

Now planning permission for houses on the site is about to expire, but a Portlaoise councillor wants any extension of time to be rejected by Laois County Council.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil, has tabled multiple motions to the Portlaoise Municipal District in the past about anti-social activity in the property.

This May 15, she sought an update in a new motion.

"We have squatters back in again on the derelict site. They are lighting fires, and people are terrified their oil tanks are going to go up. If there is not substantial work (about to start), its my belief that it just has to be refused. I appeal to the planning office that we do not give an extension, if it's applied for again and left idle. People are fed up being tormented," she said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded.

"This vacant site is going on a long time. Five years ago residents were up in arms," she said.

The council has confirmed that as yet, no commencement notice has been received to signal the start of construction.

They say permission was granted in July 2019 to Dysart Property Ltd, and this will expire on November 10 2024.

Planning permission was given to demolish the existing house, sheds and part of existing boundary wall and then to build nine 4 bedroom houses in 2 blocks of 2 semi-detached and 1 block of 5 terrace houses, with new road access via Beechfield. 

There were 15 submissions made against the plan when it was first submitted in 2018, including the idea for the access road through Beechfield. These were from Beechfield residents as well as from Cllr Fitzgerald and from Deputy Sean Fleming. 

The site was left idle since, with multiple complaints about trespassers starting fires and engaging in anti-social behaviour over the years.

The detached house fell to dereliction over a decade.

Demolition was carried out in 2021 after Laois County Council told the owner to act, with their next option being to place it on the Derelict Sites list. 

In her motion, Cllr Fitzgerald is also pressing for a redesign of the entrance to Beechfield for safety grounds.

She said it is "extremely difficult to exit the estate turning right".

"The sightline isn't there. It's not fair, it's not right, it doesn't work," she said.

The Beechfield entrance was made narrower by the council, with a path and cycle lane painted where it joined the N80, forcing drivers leaving the estate to stop before they are out far enough to check for passing traffic. The aim was to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Laois County Council in reply said that "the council has raised the matter regarding Beechfield entrance with the NTA. (National Transport Authority). An update will be provided on receipt of response".