High Street house at ‘high risk of collapse’
AN old building on High Street remains standing despite an engineer’s report on 13th December stating it was “unsafe, structurally unsound and ...at high risk of collapse onto High Street.”
Senior Council Engineer Brian Flynn told Councillor Declan Bree that the independent engineer also suggested that repair was “not an option” and recommended it be demolished.
However nothing has happened because the three bay, three storey former shop is a Protected Structure.
As such, the property had to be assessed by a Conservation Specialist and a Conservation Report prepared and submitted to the Council.
Mr Flynn told Cllr Bree that he was told this was done the second week in January and he was awaiting this report.
Sligo County Council first served a Notice on the building’s owner/administrator on 11 th December 2017 after officials became “somewhat concerned regarding the deterioration of the front façade of the building at 39 High Street. Those with responsibility for the building were told it was considered “dangerous” and asked them to submit a plan to remedy this.
At the same time, in the interests of public safety, the Council cordoned off the footpath and roadway immediately next to the building.
The original sash window and historic glass survive in situ on the upper floors while the shopfront at ground floor level is also original.
Giving their reason for including it on the list of Protected Structures, the Council said that the building while “in poor condition, contains many original features and makes a significant contribution to the streetscape.”
Cllr Bree commended the Council for taking action and asked for a timescale as to how they were going to deal with it.
Mr Flynn said he was “quite confident” the owners wouldn’t waste time in coming back with their Specialists report and said he expected to hear from them that week. Cllr Bree asked for an update at the next Municipal meeting.