Halting site access may cut through riverside park
The council has been ordered by the High Court to provide halting site accommodation in the town for the O’Reilly and Conway families.
The two existing halting sites in the town are full and the families have been living on the side of the road, near the town, after moving out of council houses claiming they could not adjust.
As the council is acting on foot of a court order, it is precluded from going through the usual part 8 planning process, which allows for public consultation. The council is also time tied by the court order.
Michael Donegan, chairman of the local community council, said it will hold a special meeting on Thursday night to discuss the situation.
He said: “Of course, we would be very concerned at losing part of the park, but until we get more information on what is proposed we are saying nothing more.”
Local councillor Paddy McAuliffe confirmed the council has purchased a site from Limerick Vocational Education Committee next to an existing halting site.
“I am hoping the council do not have to interfere with the park and get another access point,” he said.
However, according to other local sources, the only option available to the council is to open an access point through a section of the riverside town park.
The site purchased by the council is part of property owned by the VEC and directly behind an existing halting site.
It is believed the council has been unable to secure a right of way through the existing halting site.
Jimmy Feane, council director of housing said yesterday they are considering a number of options but he could not comment further.
He said the court had given the council a deadline by which they have to provide halting site accommodation to the two families.
Last year, the High Court found the council had failed in its statutory duty to provide the two families with permanent halting site accommodation in the town.
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