'Still no progress' on vacant Sarsfield Square houses

There is still no progress in sight on four houses which have stood vacant for years in an Athlone housing estate, it emerged at the September meeting of Westmeath County Council.

The four houses at Sarsfield Square have been the subject of previous representations by council members, particularly Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, who raised the subject for discussion at this week’s meeting, describing the houses as an eyesore.

Cllr O’Rourke said the houses were owned by Respond, an approved housing body, and that some had been derelict for around 15 years.

He said the situation was frustrating for the residents’ association and people living in the estate, as well as for people who had been waiting on the housing list.

He said residents had to walk past boarded-up houses which were continuing to fall into disrepair.

The council’s Director of Housing Ambrose Clarke said he did not have a direct answer on the Sarsfield Square properties but said he had become aware of a number of issues involving approved housing bodies.

He said he intended to speak to as many AHBs as possible to establish what difficulties were delaying particular schemes and properties.

Housing Services Director Jackie Finney subsequently said the council had corresponded with Respond about Sarsfield Square but that the latest correspondence had simply been acknowledged.

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