Shanowen: ‘A Third World facility’

‘A Third World facility’, ‘a health and safety issue’ and ‘an absolute disgrace’ were descriptions of Shanowen Estate in Rathcormac given to the council this week by local councillors.

Residents living in the estate have described it as a ‘building site’ due to a snag list of unfinished works, where some residents have been living and dealing with the circumstances since 2012.

Road surfacing, provision of public lighting, road kerbs and the provision of a green area are among the works that remain to be completed.

Last year, planning permission for a further 26 houses in Shanowen, Rathcormac was also lodged to Cork County Council and a decision on the matter is on hold following a 'further information' request to the developer.

A joint motion was tabled at the Fermoy Municipal District meeting on Tuesday by councillors William O’Leary, Noel McCarthy and Frank O’Flynn, calling on the Estates Management Directorate to attend a meeting of the Fermoy MD and discuss issues pertaining to the estate.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr William O’Leary said that the issues have been ongoing for as long as 12 years and that ancillary site works, including to the road, have yet to be complete.

“They’re living in a Third World facility here, make no bones about it. I’m not being dramatic when I say it, you can hardly drive in there, never mind walk it,” Cllr O’Leary said.

Cllr Noel McCarthy claimed to have been dealing with issues regarding Shanowen Estate since as early as 2009.

“It’s totally unfair that people spent good money, a lot of money, to get their houses built with the assurances there that roadways and accessories would be finished, and nothing has happened.

“The developer has a lot to answer for. It’s like he is giving them the two fingers and saying ‘I can get away with this’, and this has to stop,” Cllr McCarthy said.

According to Cllr Frank O’Flynn, key issues residents of the estate are faced with are health and safety concerns due to a lack of roadways, footpaths and public lighting.

“I never saw so many people and so many residents so frustrated and so upset. They feel at this stage, ‘will it ever, ever be done?’,” Cllr O’Flynn asked.

ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN ‘ZERO’

With new planning lodged for further houses to be built in the estate, Cllr William O’Leary pointed to a lack of enforcement of planning conditions attached to previous applications.

Cllr O’Leary noted that he had received a photo from a resident of their Local Property Tax Bill and claimed that the resident was refusing to pay it.

“It’s just not good enough. Enforcement has been zero here. It’s been very poor. Houses have been continually built and ancillary site works which are a vital part of any estate, haven’t been completed.

“While issues like this remain outstanding in Rathcormac, I certainly will not vote and will abstain from all votes on Local Property Tax until this can be rectified,” Cllr O’Leary added.

The motion was also supported by councillors Kay Dawson and Deirdre O’Brien.

MEETING

In response to the motion, Senior Executive Officer, Mary P Hayes said that unfinished estates are not the fault of the council, but rather the developers.

“What we will ask is that the estate’s department do come down and give a presentation about this estate and other unfinished estates across North Cork,” Ms Hayes said.

Municipal District Officer Pauline Moriarty stated that she had made contact with the Director of Planning and had received a reply, stating that the Estates Management would meet with the members of the committee in advance of the next Municipal District meeting.