Cathaoirleach
of the Weston Gardens Residents Association (WGRA), Cathal McCarthy,
has accused the CEO of Limerick's Regeneration Agencies, Brendan
Kenny, of engaging in "bullyboy tactics" with the
residents of Weston Gardens, Rosbrien.
Mr.
McCarthy said that the residents of Weston Gardens were stunned
by the manner in which they received the news that the regeneration
of their semi-derelict estate would not take place. Mr. Kenny
made the announcement on 3rd June at a public meeting that "nothing
would be done" with the 9 terraced houses of Weston Gardens,
Rosbrien, that they were not under the remit of the Southside
Regeneration Agency (SRA) and "would not be touched"
as they were "privately owned".
No's
1, 2 & 3 Weston Gardens were burnt out by criminal elements
in 2001 and were acquired by Limerick City Council in 2005,
but plans to refurbish the area were abandoned by the city council
in 2007 and residents were informed that they were earmarked
for regeneration. As well as problems with criminal and anti-social
behaviour, Weston Gardens has been without a refuse collection
since privatisation.
"Mr.
Kenny has been well informed about our problems and the fact
that he would make such an announcement at a public meeting
before informing our residents is astounding. Our residents
weren't invited to this meeting; I was invited to attend by
residents from Ryan Cottages and Donnellans' Buildings. Such
behaviour is indicative of the contempt Mr. Kenny has for our
Community because we won't agree to the demolition of our homes."
said Mr. McCarthy.
The
meeting in Punches Hotel was organised by the SRA to "dispel
rumours" that were allegedly circulating in the Rosbrien
area regarding the demolition of peoples homes.
"Mr.
Kenny was less than honest with the residents of Rosbrien with
the information he imparted, neglecting to bring along the Southside
Regeneration Area Map that was recently approved by the Dáil
and which clearly indicates with a red line the land that is
under his Agency's remit. Instead he choose to refer to an aerial
photograph," said Mr. McCarthy
Mr.
Kenny told the meeting that "the line stopped at Weston
Gardens". However, Mr. McCarthy disputes this claim, "I
was given a copy of this map by Mr. Kenny in March and far from
stopping at Weston Gardens, the red line encloses the ESB Depot
and Punches Close in the Rosbrien Area. Weston Gardens is right
at its centre"
"Mr.
Kenny also told the meeting that Social Regeneration was a priority
for his Agency, yet he told our Association that Social Regeneration
was a non runner as it would take too long and cost too much
money. Mr. Kenny's policy seems to be one of displace, demolish
and blame everyone else. I recently heard him blame the principals
and teachers of schools in regeneration areas for not engaging
with his Agencies, accusing them of rejecting what he called
'radical proposals'. There is nothing radical about this land
grab"
"We
have been trying to engage with Mr. Kenny and his Agency and
negotiate an agreement for the regeneration of Weston Gardens
since his arrival in Limerick last June"
"Mr.
Kenny is in receipt of our proposal for the regeneration of
Weston Gardens, (Renewal Integration Regeneration), since 6th
December 2007. We had made it clear to Mr. Kenny from the outset
that we were opposed to the demolition of our historic homes,
most of which have stood for over 100 years, and that we were
seeking the refurbishment of our homes and precinct improvement.
Our proposal was based on everything that Mr. Kenny said was
possible for our area at our meeting in November 2007."
Mr. McCarthy stated.
"Contrary
to Mr. Kenny's contention that his Agency has engaged 'proactively'
with our Association, our meetings have been, for the most part,
pointless and wasteful of our time. We have had 5 unproductive
meetings and we were none the wiser, until Mr. Kenny's public
announcement."
Mr.
McCarthy stated that residents would not be deterred by Mr.
Kenny's decision.
"Over
the years I have witnessed my elderly neighbours burnt out of
their homes, while others have died of natural causes having
spent their autumn years in a perpetual state of fear. However,
through our constant vigilance, co-operation with the Gardaí
and persistent complaints to Limerick City Council's Tenants
Enforcement Office we had managed to turn the situation around
long before the establishment of the Regeneration Agencies."
"Ultimately,
the decision to regenerate our small estate was one that was
Mr. Kenny's alone to make. At our last meeting, Mr. Kenny told
us that we were no longer under the City Councils remit as we
were to be part of regeneration. Now he has announced that we
are no longer part of regeneration either. It is clear that
there is nothing he wants to do for us, except to leave us stew
in it. This can only be viewed as bullyboy tactics. I have had
reports of similar acts of intimidation from residents in Moyross
and Southill."
"However,
our Community is resilient and determined not to give up. We
have had enough of the degeneration of our area and have begun
a major clean up to combat it, involving the painting of the
burnt-out houses and a mural that expresses our view of Limerick's
so called regeneration project. We won't be bullied out of our
homes by anyone."
PRESS
RELEASE: Thursday 5th June 2008
