Protected building ‘has deteriorated’

The council is to write to the owners of a protected structure at Lower Quay Street in Sligo about their obligations.

Director of Planning, Community and Economic Development Dorothy Clarke was responding to a query from Cllr Declan Bree as to what the council are doing to protect the structure.

Cllr Bree said concern had been expressed about the condition of the building, which has been on the list of the council’s protected structures since 2017.

“An owner or occupier of a protected structure is legally required to make sure that the structure does not become endangered through neglect, decay, damage or harm

“If for any reason a protected structure becomes endangered the Council has an obligation to intervene to prevent it becoming endangered.

“Concern has been expressed about the condition of this building which appears to have deteriorated since the building was listed by the Council in 2017.

“From what we know the building in all probability was built on the walls of the old late 17 th century quay and has many merits from a historical and social aspect and though much dilapidated it is an important survival of a particular period.

“According to the eminent Sligo historian Dr Fiona Gallagher, the building is one of the last remnants of, and a fine example of, vernacular housing of the industrial-seaport, an era which began in Sligo in the 1750’s and lasted until the end of World War 1.”

In this context, the councillor argued it is important that the council takes all the necessary action required to preserve the building.

He asked the Chief Executive what action the Council is taking to protect the three-story stone structure

Ms Clarke said the structure is “essentially two houses” and that the authorities are in the process of looking at it.

They are also in the process of writing to the owners in regard to their obligations.