Residents express concern over social housing
The council will today sign a €3 million contract for all but one house in a new estate which they will allocate for social and affordable housing.
The council are buying 16 of the 17 houses built by the Bellisle property company at Bengall Terrace.
Local residents are concerned at the introduction of social housing into the area.
Rosemary McCarthy, the Bengall Terrace residents spokeswoman, said: “We were led to believe these houses were to be sold on the open market. But the council got in behind our backs and bought all but one of the houses.
“Most of the people in this area are elderly and there is concern that social housing could bring us problems. We hope we are wrong.”
But one man, who put a deposit on a detached house in the new scheme not knowing the city council wanted to buy houses there for social housing, said yesterday he wants to complete the sale and move into his new home.
Pat Wallace, 62, who plans to move out of his home in Mulgrave Street has refused an offer by the builder to return his €10,000 deposit.
He has agreed to purchase his home at Annadale, Bengall Terrace, for €220,000.
He said: “The house is ideal for me. I lived in a corporation house in Southill for 23 years and it never bothered me and I could come and go as I pleased.”
Pat Dowling, director of housing with Limerick City Council, said they wanted to buy all 17 houses and were now going ahead with the purchase of 16.
He said it was their original plan to offer 10 units to people seeking to buy new homes under the affordable housing scheme and to rent seven to tenants as part of their social housing commitment.
But as one house has been bought privately by Mr Wallace nine would be offered as affordable housing.
