New rules needed to combat rat infestations and dumping in Laois estates

Laois County Council has been called to review planning procedures for new housing developments over ongoing problems with so-called 'No Man's Gaps' between estates which are causing issues with rodents, illegal dumping, and antisocial behaviour.

In March, residents of Colliers Court in Portlaoise raised their concerns about a new wall which is being constructed to separate their estate with the new Dargan Woods development being built behind them. 

One of the residents told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the wall is being built a couple of metres away from the existing wall at the back of the residents' homes in Colliers Court, creating a substantial gap between the houses.

The ditch that already existed behind the Colliers Court wall has caused significant problems for residents over the past 20 years, from rat infestations, illegal dumping on the site, and antisocial behaviour. The residents said they fear this new gap will further exasperate these issues.

Local Portlaoise Councillor, Caroline Dwane Stanley was contacted by the group of residents and she explained that similar situations have unfolded in other estates in Portlaoise.

Cllr Dwane Stanley raised the issue at the Portlaoise MD meeting on Monday, March 23. She called on Laois County Council to include a condition at the planning stages for new housing developments which would prohibit any gaps or waste lands being left between the boundaries of new developments and any adjacent estates.

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In response to this request, the Planning Section of Laois County Council said that "boundaries between housing estates are determined on a case by case basis through the planning application process, having regard to the relevant policies and objectives of the County Development Plan."

"In assessing such applications, the Planning Authority seeks to balance the requirement for appropriate boundary treatments with the maintenance and retention of existing hedgerows and trees, where feasible, in the interests of residential amenity, visual quality and biodiversity."

However, on hearing the response, Cllr Dwane Stanley told the council: "I don't believe any of it to be quite honest. We're living proof of the exact opposite."

The Independent councillor pointed out that a group of councillors met with the Planning Section a number of years ago to discuss this exact issue and to stop these gaps being left between estates. Despite this, there have been no changes to the planning conditions. 

As well as Colliers Court and Dargan Woods, other estates such as Fairgreen, Newpark, and Woodgrove in Portlaoise have also faced the same problem.

Cllr Dwane Stanley noted that over a year and a half ago the council had to conduct a major clean-up operation between the Fairgreen housing estate and Clonroosk Abbey, which she said cost Laois County Council around €40,000.

Like that between Colliers Court and Dargan Woods, she told the council that this gap also "became a dumping ground and dangerous for children" as they were able to access it through the broken fence.

As the Planning Section highlighted biodiversity in these spaces, Cllr Dwane Stanley said "that's not what is actually happening on the ground."

"It's absolutely a joke. Who maintains that? Absolutely nobody," Cllr Dwane Stanley stated.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan supported the motion, reiterating that these gaps are turning into "waste lands" and "no one wants to take responsibility." 

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley intends to pursue the issue at the meeting of Laois County Council on Monday, March 30. 

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