The entrance to Willow Grove, off the Carrickmacross Road
Local councillor Tomás Sharkey has asked management of Louth County Council for an update on the taking in charge of Willow Grove on the Carrickmacross Road.
The Sinn Féin representative said the estate was in need of repairs but said the council were powerless to carry them out until the issue of taking it in charge had been sorted.
He said: “Willow Grove estate badly needs repairs to the road surface. However it has not been taken in charge by Louth County Council which means that the road and other infrastructure is not yet the council’s responsibility.
“In 1997 the developer applied to have the estate taken in charge but then withdrew from the process in 2000. There is a paper bond with Danske Bank but council officials have yet to report how much this bond is worth. I am told that it will be insufficient to carry out necessary works to bring the estate to an acceptable level to be taken in charge.
“Last June I was informed by the County Manager that there was a plan to conduct a plebiscite, as provided for under Section 180 (3) (a) of the Planning & Development Act 2000 and to proceed accordingly. If this plebiscite of the residents in Willow Grove has the preferred result, Louth County Council will be able to take the estate in charge and start planning on carrying out works to it’s infrastructure.
“I am looking forward to management of our local authority coming back to me with some progress very soon.”
