Unfinished and ghost housing estates taken on by Laois County Council

More problem Celtic tiger ghost estates in Laois are being taken in charge by the council, after years of delays. 

Almost a dozen housing estates, some built up to 20 years ago are finally being taken over for council maintenance, welcomed by local councillors.

Laois County Council was approved by councillors in the January meeting to take over eleven privately built estates.

Four of them are in Portlaoise, including Garden Village, Ashewood Walk, Ashewood Gardens and area two of phase two of Bellingham estate.

Cathair na gCapaill in Portarlington is coming under the council's care.

In Mountmellick, the connected estates of Silverwood, Silverglen and Silverbrook will be taken in charge too. 

Rushall in Mountrath and Kyle Manor in Borris-in-Ossory are also ready to be taken in charge.

It means an added annual bill of €4,200 for a total of 70 streetlights at €60 each, and €20,000 a year to maintain and repair roads and services in the 11 estates.

Rushall was left unfinished by the developer back in 2007 and many streetlights are not working, Cllr James Kelly noted.

"Here we are in 2023 taking it in charge. I welcome it. I note that you estimate it will cost €4,200 a year to maintain the 70 streetlights, it would take more than that. In Rushall there are 13 or 14 lights not working. In a lot of estates there are speeding issues, I hope you can get ramps installed to slow down drivers not adhering to the limit," he said.

Kyle Manor was described as a "ghost estate" by Cllr Conor Bergin.

"It is one of the original ghost estates. There was to be 35 houses and only five were built, it must be nearly 15 years ago. The residents do their best to keep it in order, but in large parts the fencing will fall around waste ground with old prefabs. There was concern that children are playing there. Will this fence be replaced by the council? Can it be more permanent that wooden fences? Hopefully the developer will decide to finish the estate but in the meantime we could make it more comfortable," he said.

The three Mountmellick estates were built over 20 years ago, according to Cllr Paddy Bracken.

"Not a thing was done. It has taken a long time, there is no bond in place, a lot of work had to be done. Lights have been replaced even though it wasn't taken in charge so thank you," he said.

Operation Transformation reveal Portarlington Local Hero for challenge with Dr Sumi and Dr Eddie

Portlaoise MD Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said it was "crazy" that speed bumps were installed on one side of Bellingham's green, but not the other as it hadn't been taken in charge.

"A few years ago a child was knocked down in a hit and run and her leg broken, a serious injury. I am delighted to see phase two taken in charge, this is an opportunity to put in traffic calming. 

Majority of new Laois social houses owned by approved housing bodies

"Garden Village was on the agenda long before my time, it is probably one of the longest outstanding estates. There was an issue with the pumping station, it's brilliant to see it taken in charge," she said.