Expansion of women’s refuge worries city’s residents

Inner city residents in Cork have expressed concerns about a €5m expansion plan at a women’s refuge, against the backdrop of rising levels of antisocial behaviour in the area.

People living in the city’s historic Middle Parish say the proliferation of up to 23 social services within a square mile of the local community hall has drawn certain types of people into the area and created a raft of problems, from discarded drug needles to increased traffic and parking issues.

The Middle Parish Residents’ Association said they fear the proposed expansion of Edel House, a residential centre for homeless women and girls run by the Good Shepherd Services on Grattan Street, will add to the problems.

Residents’ spokesman Noel Tobin said they feel their area has its fair share of such services.“What we’re going to say to the city council is that before you give planning permission to any existing organisation, or to an organisation considering coming to this area, is please look at what’s already there,” he said.

The Middle Parish has a major acute hospital, the birth, deaths and marriages office — one of the busiest HSE offices in the county — a school and a sexual health clinic. A nearby pharmacy dispenses methadone, which has resulted in an increase in people shooting up in local public parks and discarded needles being found near the primary school.

Mr Tobin said residents have a genuine concern that an expansion of Edel House will result in an increase in antisocial behaviour linked to the centre.

“We feel, as a residential area, we have more than our share of these services,” he said. “I acknowledge all the great work they do, and their necessity, but we need balance. We don’t want a pitched battle, we want to talk this out.”

Callers to RedFM’s Neil Prendeville Show yesterday said there have been problems linked to residents of Edel House for years.

But Good Shepherd Services CEO Tony Riordan said he felt Edel House was being blamed for a range of antisocial problems which have nothing to do with the centre.

He insisted the €5m project, which includes a four-storey, 33-unit, new building to the rear of Edel House and the refurbishment of the existing building, will not result in an increase in the numbers using the centre. “The facilities we have here at the moment are from another era,” he said.

Edel House provided accommodation for almost 300 women and about 150 children last year.