Family refused all offers of housing
Relations between Sligo County Council and members of the travelling community living in Connaughton Road car park have sunk to an all time low.
It’s after a report at this month’s Council meeting given to Councillor Chris MacManus highlighted the extent of the offers made to the families over the past 13 years.
A brief summary of the various offers and proposals put to the family revealed that six offers of accommodation were made between 2004-2010.
A further 9 potential locations were offered to the family (some of which were already proposed by the Council) again in 2012.
All were rejected as unsuitable by the families.
In February 2011, frustrated by the lack of progress, the Council brought in a mediator.
But this too, failed after 22 months of talks, with the mediator concluding “no prospect of reaching agreement on a solution to the family’s long term housing needs.”
The Council said it has “not been possible to purchase a property that was acceptable to the family and the Council.”
Individual families have been reluctant to complete housing application forms - only two such applications are being processed.
Cllr MacManus said “no private citizen had the right to unilaterally claim ownership on any public property” but he also “supported the rights of all citizens to decent accommodation.”
Cllr Tom MacSharry said it was “unacceptable and unsuitable” and encouraged the Council to keep the pressure on.
Cllr Hubert Keaney said “any fair person would say it’s time to call an end to this game.”
“I wonder would my children be offered 3-10 sites in Sligo town? It’s a bloody disgrace and has been for years,” he said.
When asked by this newspaper what were the actual offers of accommodation made, the Council would only say that “three locations for Traveller Accommodation are identified in Sligo County Development Plan, Cleveragh, Finisklin andBundoran Road.”