Kanturk council houses mothballed

A PROPOSAL to develop 16 social houses at Bluepool Kanturk has been voted down by county councillors following what was at times a fractious discussion on the issue in the chamber of County Hall

The plan had been presented to the full council for approval after Kanturk/Mallow area councillors had voted in its favour, despite the fact that many of them had expressed concerns about the density of the proposed development.

The waters were further muddied following a claim by the Upper Bluepool Residents Association that an independent survey had established the Council had made an error in calculating the site area of the site.

Representatives from the residents association, which threatened to seek a judicial review if the council decided to go ahead with the plan, were in the public gallery for the debate.

While the density and the design of the houses came under the spotlight, Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) said he did not want to see the plan scrapped, given the fact that there were 149 applicants on the local housing list. Instead, he proposed the number of house be reduced to 12.

However, Cllr John Paul O’Shea (Ind), who along with Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) had voted against the plan at the February Kanturk/Mallow district meeting, pointed out that were this to happen approval would have to be sought from the Department of Local Government and the planning process would have to start from scratch. “I want housing for Kanturk, but it has to be with the support of the local community,” he said.

Cllr Gearoid Murphy (FF) said that while there was a pressing need for council houses in Kanturk, he could not support the 16-house plan saying the density was too high and their elevation was out of kilter with surrounding houses.

“It is important we build houses, but we have to do it right,” he said.

Cllr Melissa Mullane (SF) said she would be disappointed with any attempt to downsize the development, saying the council would be “taking a huge gamble” by going back to the Department.

Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF) said the council needed to go back into the consultation process “and bring the community with us on this”, while Cllr Gerard Murphy said he too believed the density was too high on what was a narrow laneway. He pointed too out that if the council decided to reduce the number of houses, it would be left with no choice but to recommence the entire planning process.

“Everybody wants social houses built, but in an appropriate way. We wouldn’t give planning permission for such a project to a private developer. The standard for social housing should be as high as the standard for private housing,” he said.

Council chief executive Tim Lucey said he had visited the site in person and was in favour of 16 houses being built.

Eventually, a vote was taken to proceed with just 12 houses, meaning the project will now be put on ice while the planning process is revisited.