Cork city manager launches crackdown on derelict buildings
Tim Lucey outlined measures, up to and including the compulsory acquisition of some of the worst derelict sites, as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the problem in Blackpool.
He also warned the owners of derelict properties will be billed for any costs incurred by the council if it had to take action on certain properties.
Given the financial constraints facing the council, officials will first seek to work with property owners to resolve the problems.
But where negotiation does not yield results and improvements, the derelict sites legislation will be used, he said.
The crackdown is outlined in a report on dereliction in Blackpool presented to city councillors last week.
It was prepared by one of the city’s most senior planning officers, Ann Bogan, following calls for action from community leaders when councillors adopted a Local Area Plan (LAP) for the village in October.
Long-time Blackpool resident Mick Moriarty, the baldy barber, welcomed the plan.
“This has been a problem for 30 years. They’ve forgotten the core of Blackpool,” he said. “We are doing our bit and are now involved in the Tidy Towns Competition. We had 24 volunteers out cleaning the streets last Saturday. But the city council must do its bit too.”
Ms Bogan’s report shows that when the LAP was being drafted, 50 sites in Blackpool were identified as unsightly, in need of minor remedial works to facades, or vacant and in need of serious repair.
The most recent survey, conducted last month, shows some improvement, with 35 sites, consisting of 33 buildings, one site and one gateway area, now identified for further investigation.
Half of these sites — 16 buildings and one gateway — are deemed visually unsightly and requiring some minor remedial works to bring them up to a required standard.
“However, it is recognised that there is a further group of around 15 buildings which will require significant upgrading to bring them to an acceptable condition,” Ms Bogan said.
The village has now been divided into three sub-areas for special attention over the coming months.
The first area — Thomas Davis Street, Commons Road, Brocklesby Street, part of Great William O’Brien Street, Berwick Lane and part of Watercourse Road — will be targeted first.
Some buildings in this area, especially the Thomas Davis Street block from number 18/19, number 20/21, and number 22, as well as number 71 Watercourse Road — the former Lido Cinema and O’Meara Camping Building — have been highlighted for priority action.
The city’s housing officials are in talks with the owner of number 20/21 Thomas Davis Street, and a voluntary housing association, with a view to negotiating a lease under the Capital Assistance Scheme/Social Leasing Scheme.
“The possibility of including the adjoining vacant buildings as part of this scheme will be investigated further,” the report said.
The council notified the owner of number 71 Watercourse Road that the building was being considered for inclusion on the Derelict Sites Register.
A Section 11 Notice under the Derelict Sites Act was subsequently served on the owner in October specifying that works would be required to be done.
The six-week period for compliance expired last Monday (December 6) and the owner has since been in contact with City Hall and a meeting is planned. Other sites to be prioritised in the first area include:
* 63 Thomas Davis Street;
* 68 and 70 Watercourse Road;
* T&A, Berwick Lane side;
* 1A Watercourse Road;
* Corkeran’s Quay;
* 1 and 2 Millview Cottages;
* 16a, 16b and 17 Commons Road.
The second area, which includes most of Great William O’Brien Street and Gerald Griffin Street, and the third area — which includes Cathedral Walk and the rest of Watercourse Road — will be tackled in due course.
The report outlines several approaches which will be used to tackle dereliction.
In about half the cases, relatively minor works would greatly improve the appearance of buildings, Ms Bogan said.
“Such minor work would consist of, for example, painting the external facades, removing weeds or plants growing on widow sills or guttering, repairing guttering, securing external wiring, repairing windows and plasterwork,” she said.
A highly successful painting scheme for the village could be repeated, and the community warden will be used to tackle these minor issues, she said.
Much of the core of Blackpool is in a conservation area and officials are considering running a small grant scheme aimed to encouraging the repair of buildings in conservation areas on a pilot basis for next year.
The council said it will consider supporting temporary uses of vacant buildings, such as display areas for artists.
And it is working with voluntary housing associations on the provision of social housing on derelict sites or buildings.
In the worst cases, Ms Bogan said the council will actively use its powers under the Derelict Sites Act.
Section 11 notices and follow- up legal action will be used where minor works are required and where less formal contact has not yielded results, she said.
“In more serious cases, buildings will be put on the Derelict Sites Register and a levy applied.
“The compulsory purchase order powers can only be used sparingly due to funding constraints but may be appropriate in exceptional circumstances and where they can help to clear title of a property to facilitate redevelopment.”
Author and journalist, TP O’Mahony, who was raised in Blackpool, said the decline started when a section of the Northern Ring Road, the Blackpool bypass, was built right through the heart of the village. He also blamed the closure of lane-ways — the very fabric of the community.
Blackpool-born Labour Cllr Denis O’Flynn said when the regeneration of the Blackpool valley began, and the shopping centre and retail park were built, property speculators snapped up sites in the village centre.
But while some properties were renovated, several property owners simply sat on their investments, while others simply walked away from their projects.
He said: “They have made a ghost town of the village. It would bring tears to your eyes now to see the way it’s gone. It’s not good enough for the people who live there.”
Sinn Féin Cllr Thomas Gould also gave a cautious welcome to the plan. “It’s an urgent issue that needs to be resolved for the residents.”
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