Bank put ‘€270,000 on table’ to fix Beeches estate in Boherbue
THE Bank of Ireland has put €270,000 “on the table” to finish off the Beeches estate in Boherbue which has been a major bone of contention for residents.
Major plaudits were given by councillors to John Aherne, estates engineer at CCC who has played a key role in sorting out ghost and unfinished estates in the North Cork region.
Regarding the Beeches in Boherbue, Mr Aherne explained that there is one section which is occupied, the second section houses have been built no infrastructures have been put in place for the 18 houses such as roads and footpaths. In the third section of the estate, it mainly consists of some foundations while other houses were taken up to roof level. The plan is to demolish this and put the land “back to pasture.”
At the Kanturk Mallow municipal district meeting, which was held at the Edel Quinn Hall, Mr Aherne said CCC has built up a “very good relationship” with lending agencies.
Mr Aherne said a Site Resolution Plan (SRP) is in place. He said there will be enough money in €270,000 to finish off the estate in its entirety. “It will then mean the houses which have been revamped will be put back up for sale,” he said.
Going forward, Mr Aherne felt the best way to deal with estates is to have the bond placed with the local engineers office.
Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) was in complete agreement and said it was pointless a cheque being lodged with the planning department as it is Mr Aherne who has the knowledge about estates would know exactly what to do.
“It really is quite clear from all of this, that John (Aherne) has the knowledge and expertise. The bond should really be lodged with the local area office as the engineers know exactly what they are at and not the planning department,” he said.
Chairing the meeting, Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF) said in the two years since he became a councillor, the meeting on Friday was without question “the most positive” he has ever attended, as 10 houses at Lios na Greine were being knocked and issues at Dun an Oir in Kanturk were also being addressed.
Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) said he had been dealing with residents at the Beeches in Boherbue for many years.
“So many people were frustrated at the state of the estate as the unfinished houses are a complete and utter eyesore. The people of Boherbue don’t want to be looking at an eye-sore,” Cllr Collins told The Corkman.
At a previous CCC meeting, senior executive engineer, Aidan Weir described the Beeches as being “the reality of the property bubble.”
“It’s not right for the fine village of Boherbue and I’m most sure that the people there don’t want this dragging on,” he said.