Social houses to be built despite objections

DESPITE reservations by residents of the select Ballyard area of Tralee, the town council is to proceed with plans to build 85 social houses there.

Some councillors hit out at claims by residents that their property might be devalued; that gangs of youths would be “hanging around” local attractions such as the Aquadome; that horses and sulkeys would be brought into their area, or that residents of the Mitchels Crescent area of Tralee would be resettled there.

During a tense debate, councillors also said they were upset by the tone of some phone calls they had received from objectors.

“In the past, there seems to have been a stigma associated with council housing and a huge fear associated with it. But my experience of such estates in my own area is that they are exemplary,” said former Tralee mayor Terry O’Brien (Labour).

Councillor Tommy Foley (independent) said: “I don’t think for one second that these people (those on the waiting list) are undesirable. They only want their own little castle for themselves and their children. They want to live in the community and will be proud to live in it.” Ballyard residents - up to 50 of whom turned up at this week’s council meeting - said they were not objecting to social housing. Their main argument was the proposed development was too large. When Sinn Féin Cllr Cathal Foley claimed the residents did not want social housing in their area, there were cries of “not true” from the public gallery.

Council officials stressed the need to resolve Tralee’s housing shortage, saying there was a waiting list of 955 people, which was growing all the time. FF Cllr Ted Fitzgerald said the council had previously held the view that 50 houses was sufficient in an estate. He would like to see the council building smaller estates.

As a compromise, Cllr Fitzgerald proposed that 65 houses be built in Ballyard instead of 85 and he was applauded by residents in the public gallery. The proposal was defeated. The development, on a 34-acre site, will also include 36 private, affordable houses and eight units for St John of God’s, as well as a community centre, crèche, playing fields, a basketball court and a shop.

The council decided by eight votes to four to proceed with the development as planned.