Call to urgently address Lis Cara estate

Is there an end in sight to the problems at Lis Cara estate, Carrick-on-Shannon?

The short answer provided by Leitrim County Council this week was simply “no, not for a long time.”

Independent Cllr Enda Stenson asked the local authority to “urgently address the whole issue of Lis Cara housing development” at Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District meeting on Monday.

He asked about the estate being taken in charge and also if there could be a solution found for the level of water surrounding the development which is causing the entrance to be blocked.

Cllr Stenson noted the flooding issues at the entrance over Christmas and said there was a safety issue for pedestrians. He told the Council “we can't leave it like that, we have to take responsibility.”

With a housing crisis in the county along with the increasing number of refugees coming he noted that at least 20 houses could be upgraded to living standard.

He said the flooding issue has to be sorted before it damages the houses.

Cllr Finola Armstrong McGuire agreed and said the flooding at the entrance was “dangerous” and noted the high population of children living in the estate.

Cllr Des Guckian asked the Council to provide the list of contractors and history of the development.

Chair of the meeting Cllr Sean McGowan agreed that some of the houses in Lis Cara should be brought back into use as they are needed.

Leitrim County Council stated that the flooding at the entrance to the estate is not caused by any flooding event and the actual cause can only be ascertained once the water levels recede.

The Council said the estate is not the charge of the local authority but they have assisted residents by providing a temporary ramp. They are willing to consider undertaking future identified works provided that written consent from the owner's management company is obtained.

The Council confirmed that it has commenced the formal process to move the estate to the next stage of the taking in charge process.

Council engineer Darragh O'Boyle said they have also applied to climate action funding for new pipes along the route.

Cllr Stenson concluded that a roadmap is needed to tackle Lis Cara “for the sake of Carrick” and to ease the housing crisis.