Residents demand action in estate

The developer of a Nenagh housing estate has said efforts are being made to address road surface, lighting and flooding problems that frustrated local residents say they have had to contend with for years.

The residents of Ciamaltha Meadows believe their houses are among the best in Nenagh and they are happy to live in such a spacious estate. However, they say the road surfaces in their estate have been neglected to the point where damage is being caused to cars and safety is being put at risk. Potholes are a problem in several locations, and one stretch of around 50m has 18 potholes.

Footpaths in the estate are also in need of repair after suffering damage or deterioration, and residents have expressed particular concern for the safety of children and older people living in Ciamaltha Meadows.

Safety concerns have also been raised over the lack of streetlights working in the estate. Residents say 20 lights – around half the total – are not working, leaving large parts of the estate in darkness after evening time.

SANDBAGS

Another problem that has beset Ciamaltha Meadows is poor drainage, with water collecting in parts of the estate following heavy rain. Residents say the water has come worryingly close to their homes at times, leaving some considering stocking up on sandbags as a means of flood prevention.

Residents told this newspaper that they are “embarrassed” to have people visit their homes and comment on how the estate has been left. Ciamaltha Meadows was built 30 years ago and local residents said most of the issues of concern have existed since then, some worsening over the years. They said they have raised these issues “repeatedly” with the developer but have seen “little meaningful progress”.

‘CLEAR PLAN’

The Ciamaltha Meadows residents say they do not want to face another winter in this situation and are calling on developer Tom Grace & Sons Ltd to give them a “clear plan” for tackling the problems. They say patching individual potholes will not be enough and want full surface replacement of the affected sections.

Residents are also seeking a full investigation of the drainage system in their estate, including surface-water drainage, to establish why water is not clearing in times of heavy rain, and permanent remediation of the problem.

The residents also want Tom Grace and Sons Ltd to explain how and when the defective lights will be restored. But they say their concerns are being “ignored”, despite their representations to the developer over the years.

They want a meeting with Tom Grace and Sons Ltd to set out what work is required, clarify responsibility for each issue and provide dates for completion.

“These are basic services for people living in the estate,” the residents committee said in a statement. They said they should not have to wait for an injury or flood damage before action is taken.

‘NEAR FUTURE’

Asked to comment on the situation, Tom Grace & Sons Ltd said they are aware of the issues in the estate and that these would be tackled in the “near future”. The developer could not provide an exact timeframe because contractors were being replied upon to carry out the work, but said progress is being made towards this end.

The developer accepted that the infrastructure in Ciamaltha Meadows is in poor condition and agreed that people should be concerned about facing into another winter with these issues unresolved. But the point was also made that contractors in general are busy with larger scale projects, and this has become an issue for many in the construction industry.

The Ciamaltha Meadows developer said they would be prepared to meet with the residents but added that they are already aware of the problems in the estate and assured that they are working towards resolving them.