They have probably tried this route already but just in case, have they contacted the building enforcements department in the council and get them to take legal action on behalf of residents?

unfortunately if we wait for an election there is a good chance that someone might die, someone crashed into the hole last year and it was only by sheer lucky they did not go over the side, we also live in fear that a child may go exploring and get hurt or killed this hole is full of water at the lower end and after the accident in athlone almost 12 months ago we are worried of a similar scenario.

Was thinking the same thing. Love that show so much.

Oh Shaun Shaun Shaun. It’s the residents own tough luck that they bought in an unfinished estate?, it will also be there own tough luck if a child gets hurt or killed in the hole?? I’m sure it’s just tough luck too if they get run over by a car because the footpath was taken away (after they bought their homes)?? In fact Shaun why are the residents of oranhill even raising their concerns, the poor developers can’t be held responsible surely!!?? In fact I hope all this publicity doesn’t interrupt their well deserved rest in the Algarve!

Mc, the developers will never be held to account financially as they are broke. Any fix will come out of public purse.

Many people are living in accommodation which is far from ideal, on main roads with kids, balconies with kids, lack of outdoor space etc etc but as I said the majority have no developer to blame for their choices so must live with them.

Completely agree that there are people in terrible situations out there but this campaign is about highlighting the developers and the mess they left behind. Maybe nothing will come from it but I have to give the residents credit for not just sitting back, putting up with it and saying nothing….which is what we all usually do.

Shaun – the problem here is that the a public body granted an unconditional PP extension to the applicant. I think it’s fair to say that there’s no immediate appetite for development at the moment. Having PP enhances the value of the site and it should have been a condition of the permission that the site be made safe. Or perhaps this comes under building control enforcement.

I agree. If they genuinely thought it was such a problem they would all come together in the community and fix the problem instantly.

Shut your moany mouths, Roll up your sleeves,get your community out, fix it.

And think about the fact that you have great houses with clean running water and all those facilities and be glad of it.

it’s not their land or property to touch. the issue of the footpath i would imagine is the responsibility of the council. it would cost lots to fix the problem and at the end of the day is not the residents responsibility but unfortunately they have to live with it. fair dues to the journal for sharing the story and lets hope someone is shamed into taking action.

Yea, everyone grab a spade and start filling it in! It’ll be a beautiful park with a duck pond and a playground, easily within 15-20 years. @ John Stone, you’re away with the fairies!

John and Stephen, ,
The community can do NOTHING about this because, if you had read the article and watched the video you would know that this is PRIVATE PROPERTY. They can do nothing on private property except what the owner, who seems to have disappeared, gives them permission to do. In the meantime it has been years since anything was done by the admittedly broke owner of the property, except dig a hole and start on the next phase. When you buy into such a community you are shown an artist’s concept of what the finished project will look like and the time span it is going to be finished in. That is what the community people bought into. They have every right to complain and demand that something be done about this. That is their only course of action as well as suing the owner of the property, which I believe they should be looking into, as that would put something legal on record.

@ Janine Boe – here ya go: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcastic

Joe have you actually seen the hole and where it’s located? It’s not about getting the public to pay for it, it’s about getting the government to put pressure on the developers to sort their mess out! Of course that won’t happen but don’t knock people for at least getting off their ass and trying to do something.

Also the road right next to this hole will become a relief road for the surrounding road network in oranmore (which is badly needed) a deal which was struck between the council and the developer. Ownership was supposed to be handed over to the council upon completion, that never happened, council don’t want to know about it until then….

People didn’t move into a half built estate. If you watched the film you’ll see that the estate was built in 2002 and this hole was started in 2007.

Exactly, it was a large green area when the estate was built. In 2007 when phase one was complete the whole area was looking good and relatively tidy, since then however the developer has used the area as his own dumping ground for his building shit as it’s his land… Hence, the unkempt look….