Council must pursue owners of derelict sites say McNelis

By Kernan Andrews

Owners of derelict sites in Knocknacarra need to “get their acts together” by replacing damaged hoarding or carrying out safety works, or the Galway City Council must start forcing them to do so.

This is the view of Labour city councillor Niall McNelis. He has been calling on the council’s planning and environment department to have the site beside Altan Apartments on the Western Distributor Road listed as derelict as the hoarding is old, an eye sore, and has become easily accessible.

Cllr McNelis made his call, following recent events, where he was forced to call the fire brigade and gardaí after witnessing youths exiting the site after a gorse fire had started.

“This is the third time the fire service has been called to the site,” he said. “A water tanker had to come out to quench the fire. Not only has private property been damaged but wildlife has been destroyed by pure vandalism.”

Cllr McNelis has alleged that other such sites in Knocknacarra on the Ballymoneen Road “have not carried out safety precautions and are storing materials in a manner not approved by the council”. He said local residents “should not have to have these sites lying there with no care by the owners”.

He said that as building on these sites “won’t be happening for a few years” and some sites are now in the control of banks, the council “must pursue these owners as soon a possible”.