Call for CPO of Respond houses in Sarsfield Square
The Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council Cllr Aengus O'Rourke is calling on the local authority to work to compulsory purchase three houses in Sarsfied Square, Athlone, which he says are owned by the Respond housing agency.
Cllr O'Rourke said Respond owns a number of houses in Sarsfield Square, three of which have been vacant for some time, one for seven years, another for five years and a third for three years.
"These three-bedroom family homes are boarded up, they look awful, and the occupants of the neighbouring house are understandably very annoyed," he added.
"These abandoned houses are unsightly, they have become dumping grounds and structural issues are now occurring. The neighbouring, attached properties are experiencing dampness and other issues," he added.
"I am calling on Westmeath County Council to CPO these Respond houses in Sarsfield Square with the assistance of the Department of Housing, so we can quickly get them back into use as family homes for people who desperately need them," Cllr O'Rourke said.
He said to see houses idle in Sarsfield Square in the middle of a housing emergency infuriated him. "In Athlone we have over 450 people waiting for a social house, some people have been waiting for years. All of them would give their eye teeth for a home in Sarsfield Square, a settled, quiet, town convenient estate."
"I have raised the matter at council level and instructed the council to write to Respond on numerous occasions. And, I have had Parliamentary Questions raised on the matter, ensuring that the Minister for Housing, and the Department of Housing are aware of the matter.
"I have received commitment after commitment from Respond that they will refurbish these houses in Sarsfield Square. The latest commitment was that in quarter one 2023 work would begin on all three houses. We are now in quarter two and still nothing has happened.
"I am proud to say as Chairman of Westmeath County Council, compared to all other local authorities in Ireland, in Westmeath we turn our houses around very quickly once they become vacant. On average the turnaround is eight to twelve weeks depending on the repairs required."