From dream living to a danger-filled dump

Cormac Murphy

IT was billed as vibrant city living -- but for excited residents the dream turned sour.

Parkview, a new estate on the border of Finglas and Ballymun in Dublin, has not been completed by the developer.

Many of the houses are occupied but there is also a significant section of the estate which is unfinished and "derelict".

Part of the remaining site has become a dumping ground, leading to health concerns.

"It's beside me and it's a disgrace," local councillor Paul McAuliffe told the Herald.

"There's a lot of anti-social behaviour, like fires and other incidents, because of all the building materials left lying around."

Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL), which was set up by Dublin City Council to revitalise the suburb, licensed developer Lyndonbarry to build the housing scheme at Poppintree Park.

Mr McAuliffe said the estate is "partially complete and partially inhabited". He said children were running around the place, with building materials scattered everywhere.

The Fianna Fail councillor urged the council to take the estate in charge, even though it had not been finished.

"There are numerous hazards which could cause injury, including building rubble, unprotected manholes and waterlogged trenches," he said.

Mr McAuliffe reported the site to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). A spokesman for the HSA confirmed it was looking into the issues raised in connection with Parkview. Lyndonbarry did not comment.

Ciaran Murray, of BRL, told the Herald that "about 50pc of the development is complete".

"Under the agreement, they (Lyndonbarry) have licence to carry out the agreed development. They can call down the title if or when they have the units complete," Mr Murray said. He admitted "about a third of the original site" is now in a "derelict condition".

BRL has already met Lyndonbarry and outlined that if they do not complete the development, the regeneration company will examine a legal remedy.

Independently, the council can also look at its powers under the derelict powers legislation.

A spokeswoman for property agents Wyse, which acts as agents for Parkview Estate Management Company Ltd, said it understood that Lyndonbarry "was endeavouring to resolve these matters in the short term".

comurphy@herald.ie

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