Landmark Laois derelict buildings give off 'bad vibes' about town

Derelict Mountmellick buildings should be demolished or redeveloped according to public representatives with one councillor saying they give off a ‘bad vibe’ about the town.

The status of the privately-owned Central Garage and publicly-owned Maltings buildings was raised with Laois County Council at a recent meeting in Portlaoise. 

Cllr Paddy Bracken, Fianna Fáil, tabled a motion about the properties at the meeting with County Hall officials. In it, he asked about the current status of derelict sites at the old Maltings, Irishtown and the old Central Garage, Emmett Street, Mountmellick.

David O’Hara, Senior Planner, replied in writing firstly about the Central Garage which was a Celtic Tiger crash victim and which Cllr Bracken said should be purchased via a CPO by the council.

“In January 2023 a section 11 notice was served on the owners requiring specified works to be carried out by February 2023 in order to prevent land from becoming or continuing to be a derelict site.  These works were completed to the satisfaction of the Local Authority,” he said.

Cllr Bracken said the garage site, which was put up for auction in 2016 following a voluntary liquidation, has been unused for 15 years. He said the public has a different opinion of the site than the council. 

“It is a derelict site in the eyes of the public. It is a fine site on the N80 and is lying there idle. It is very disappointing to see a site with great potential left for so long,” he said.   More below picture.

The Central Garage was vandalised during the many years of vacancy.

Mr O’Hara also replied in writing about the Maltings which is also on the N80 on the Portlaoise side of town. The building came into the ownership of the council via NAMA. 

“The Old Maltings site at Irishtown, Mountmellick is now in council ownership. The council is investigating potential uses and redevelopment options for the site having regard to the location and protected structure in situ,” said the planner.

Cllr Bracken was clear in his view of the state of the building which has already seen more than €80,000 in public money spent on it in the shape of a new wall that replaced wooden hoarding. 

“It is totally derelict. It is the first thing you see coming into the town on the N80…It is well past the time to do something about it,” he said.

He added that “no progress” had been made with either site.   

Cllr Ollie Clooney, Independent, agreed and spoke about the tone set for the town by the empty buildings.

“They give off a bad vibe in Mountmellick,” he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: The Maltings building in the Irishtown side of Mountmellick.

He called for the Central Garage to be knocked and replaced with a new development.

He also sought improvements at the Maltings.

During the building boom, the Maltings was earmarked for luxury apartments. A developer received planning approval
for 37 one and two-bedroom apartments. The site was partially demolished at the time but the plans also subsequently collapsed.

Roundabout demand for 'deadly dangerous' Laois junction on national road

Junction on Portlaoise Mountmellick N80 which also serves Carlow and Offaly

The issue was raised at the Borris-in-Ossory Moutmellick Municipal District meeting.