Residents may sue contractor over noise

RESIDENTS affected by a civil engineering project in Limerick city, which is expected to cost at least €50 million more than its original price tag, are threatening to take the contractor to court over what they believe is unnecessary disturbance.

Last night, Labour’s Cllr John Ryan, a member of Limerick City Council, said the residents of Thomond Gate “have been driven mad by the scant regard shown to them by the contractor.”

The work on the drainage system “which is taking place literally outside their bedroom windows as these houses front onto the street” has caused almost incessant noise, smell and dust pollution.

The heavy machines begin rolling at 7am each day and never stop until 7pm and as a result, people living in close proximity to the Clancy Strand/Thomond Gate works have had little peace and quiet since the project began in 2000, he said.

Cllr Ryan said he would stand four-square behind any legal initiative taken by the residents who are demanding an improvement in the awful conditions in which they have been forced to live for a prolonged period of time. Members of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have already quizzed the Department of the Environment on the project, originally budgeted at less than €10 million.

Uniform Construction, which began the work in 2000, was removed from the project in 2001 by Limerick City Council in a dispute over costs and payments.

Last year, the council invited tenders for the completion of the project, which it was then estimated would cost between €20m and €25m. Uniform Construction had already pocketed an estimated €6m for the project.

Cllr Ryan said the residents were hoping that the courts might order that works be carried out by the new contractor with greater regard for the residents.

“Even if the work started at 9am instead of 7am this would be regarded as an improvement,” he said.