Unsafe building is set for demolition
A centuries old derelict house in danger of collapse on High Street is to be demolished this week.
Sligo County Council had to threaten the joint owners with legal action under the Sanitary and Services Act 1964 - which was scheduled for today Tuesday 4 th September - regarding the public safety of No. 39 High Street, beside the Friary.
The building is owned by several owners and the banks are also involved as it is in receivership.
However, they have now agreed to sell the building to Sligo County Council, which will demolish the entire building.
Councillor Tom MacSharry was given the update on foot of his motion at yesterday’s September Council meeting (Monday).
Council Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes told Cllr MacSharry that they had agreed to buy the property and as of yesterday morning the power had been turned off.
The Council erected temporary barriers in front of the building just before Christmas week last year as concern grew that the front wall was buckling.
Mr Hayes told the meeting that they had originally thought of demolishing the house this evening but it would be “more than likely Sunday morning” now as it was quietest time of the week on High Street.
The Council has done a survey on the building. Mr Hayes told members the Council would now have a site owned by them in the town centre and would decide what to do with it in future.
“It’s bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion from the Council’s point of view,” he said.
Councillors MacSharry and Declan Bree welcomed the news.
“The Council just didn’t see the progress and that compelled them to start legal proceedings and the threat of that has lead us to where we are today,” said Cllr Bree.
He told The Champion: “The fact that the Council was obliged to commence legal proceedings to bring the matter to this stage is indicative of the difficulties which council staff have had in dealing with this matter over the past number of months. The case was to be heard in Sligo District Court (today) Tuesday.
“Taking possession of the building now allows the Council to proceed with demolition and indeed to recover its costs. It will also provide the Council with a prime site in the centre of Sligo.
“Nine months ago engineers advised us that the building was unsafe, structurally unsound and at high risk of collapse onto High Street,” he said.
“That’s most welcome for all the residents and new businesses there. The elderly mass-goers to the Friary will also be delighted,” said Cllr MacSharry.
He added that people had been significantly inconvenienced by the safety barriers “not to mention the very ugly blight on the local landscape” and welcomed the fact the street would be reopened fully to pedestrian and motor traffic.