Writes Ciaran Dineen
A report on a number of derelict sites in the Carrigaline Municipal District (MD) have highlighted the need to address the issue by Cork County Council, with local councillors keen to add more to the list and move towards revitalising buildings and spaces within our town centres.
The report, presented to councillors at the latest meeting of the MD, stated that 4 properties have been removed from the Derelict Sites register since December 2021, two of these properties were taken from the list as the sites are now listed within the Cork City Council boundary, while a building in Monkstown and one in Carrigaline have now seen works commence and have subsequently been removed from the list.
A lot of commentary was made surrounding the condition of the property at Cogan’s Corner, with Councillor Seámus McGrath (FF), asking whether the site would be considered a dangerous structure. Cllr McGrath said, “I understand the fire service had to respond to a call due to lose slates on the building so should it be listed as a dangerous structure at this stage? I’m glad to see it on the list but it badly needs attention and with the fire service having to respond, it’s potentially something that could be extremely dangerous if slates started to fly.” The Executive Officer responded to Cllr McGrath, saying that a new inspection can be carried out on the building to make sure it’s safe.
A little later on in the discussion, Cllr McGrath pulled up a picture he had been sent on his phone following the incident where the fire service needed to be called, describing the roof as “partially gone” and saying that in a “high profile location where that is, the potential of a slate hitting a pedestrian is very high and I think that report needs to be done ASAP”.
Commenting on Cogan’s Corner, Cllr Jack White (FG) added some stern words, describing the building as in an awful “state” and that it was a blight on the town of Carrigaline. “It’s a disgrace and it’s been a disgrace for 20 years. Much to the frustration of the Tidy Towns Committee, businesses and local residents, it’s absolutely shocking, I think you’d be struggling to find a worse example of dereliction in the country. We can all see it, dereliction is vandalism, it’s urban vandalism and it’s destroying the streetscape.”
As it stands, the report on derelict sites indicates that the Council have sent a letter to the Receiver of the building requesting a written update on the proposed plans for the site and a timeline of when these works are expected to take place. The Council have also noted that discussions have been opened with the owners/occupiers of the building and adjoining warehouse at No.4 Railway Street in Passage West. In relation to potential dangerous structures, Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind) added that the Convent School in Passage West has had slates tied onto it by a net put up as an emergency by Cork County Council about 8 years ago, and it still remains there.
Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) queried why the buildings she supplied the Council to be added to the list based in Crosshaven weren’t added to the list. She was informed that the focus for now is on sites located in Carrigaline and Passage West with the MD executives working with the Property Activation Unit to address these specific areas.