Laois County Council starts compulsory purchase of derelict housing site

There is finally light ahead for residents of a Portlaoise housing estate who have been living beside a derelict housing plot for the past 25 years.

Laois County Council has confirmed that it has begun a Compulsory Purchase Order on sites in Woodgrove, Portlaoise. The site in the middle of the mature housing estate could fit up to three new council houses.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had asked the council for the update on a motion she tabled in November to the Portlaoise Municipal District meeting.

Her motion asked for a CPO to be used to forcibly buy the overgrown site. She was not satisfied with the answer from the council, that they had begun the legal process to place the site on their Derelict Sites Register.

"This response completely ignores the question I asked, that the site be CPO'd. We all know if a site goes on the derelict list, it's sitting for years." she had said.

At the December meeting, she again asked for an update.

The council Director of Services Simon Walton gave Cllr Dwane Stanley the answer she had sought.

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"Further to a discussion I had with the Regeneration unit, they gave their confirmation that the council is in the process of commencing a CPO process for the site," he said.

"I appreciate that, it's good news, this is ongoing for at least 25 years," Cllr Dwane Stanley replied.