By Andy Spearman
Here we are at the start of another year, a time when we take stock of where we are and where we in what direction we should be heading.
As I look around this town, which I am proud to have called home for over half a century, I see problems all around but signs of progress also. I’m thinking of the new look Dominic’s Bridge and the more recent public space installed at the top of Peter Street (pictured above).
Issues making the headlines during 2022 were, once again, the housing shortage, the cost of living crisis, the chaotic traffic, criminality and the ever worsening dereliction that has blighted our town for far too long.
Dereliction has been increasing in central Drogheda for years as do the protests from concerned members of the public which has made it impossible for the Council to ignore. It really is up to them and Central Government to com e up with a solution because this problem is not going to go away on its own.
Dereliction in Drogheda was the subject of a very important and effective social media campaign, #DerelictDrawda run throughout the year by Dom Gradwell and others which culminated in a very successful event called the “Pretty Vacant” tour of Drogheda’s derelict sites in August. SEE OUR REPORT
This event, which attracted over 100 concerned citizens and some very knowledgeable speakers, was an eye-opener for many as to the depth of the problem in Drogheda.
One fact that I learned that day which struck me as bizarre was that the Irish laws on dereliction have not been updated in 32 years!
Under The Derelict Sites Act, 1990 the local authority has an obligation to eliminate and/or prevent dereliction. That’s not me trying to be clever, it says so on the Louth County Council website.
“Derelict sites can have a negative impact on the social, economic, commercial and visual aspects on an area and surrounding neighbourhood” they continue. “It is important that they are reported, investigated and rendered non-derelict.”
Hear, hear” I say (or should that be “here, here”? – or even Ah here!)
“The Derelict Sites Act requires that the owner and occupier of land ensure that the land or structures do not become or do not continue to be a derelict site.”
The Act defines a Derelict Site as (still quoting here) any land which detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of:
- Structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition, or
- The neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land or structures, or
- The presence, deposit or collection of litter, rubbish, debris or waste.
It is very easy to pour all the blame on Louth County Council for the dire state that central Drogheda, especially West Street, has been reduced to but this would be unfair.
No doubt they are painfully aware of the situation but seem unable to respond in any meaningful way to the dereliction and vacancy which has grown steadily worse for years. However, the biggest responsibility by far lies with property owners who fail to maintain their buildings.
Lack of funds is the usual excuse for allowing a premises to fall into dereliction, but this too is a cop out. Becoming a property owner brings with it responsibilities for the upkeep of that property and not just in boom times.
With some imagination and investment, the floors above town centre shops and offices could be adapted to provide badly needed homes for people which would breathe life back into the town and add to the “footfall” that retail businesses often refer to.
It’s not just the town centre streets that need attention either – the tank farms on the South bank of the River Boyne have been rusting away for years getting uglier and potentially more of a pollution risk as time goes on
It is time for the Council to sit down with the owners of these derelict buildings and sites to see how they can find a remedy. The words compulsory purchase order spring to mind.
