Addressing vacancy in Tipperary is an ‘opportunity’ for property owners, not a threat
A push on tackling vacancy and dereliction in one major Tipperary town has been welcomed and described as an “opportunity” for property owners.
At its July meeting, Clonmel Borough District heard details of a new initiative to tackle vacancy and dereliction, with 22 properties initially identified for support.
Representatives from the council’s planning section told councillors that they are hoping to work with the owners of these properties and help them to bring properties back into use.
Letters have been sent to the property owners, and if the owners don’t respond to the council within a set timeframe, the property will be added to Tipperary County Council’s derelict sites register.
However, planning representatives said that the new scheme wasn’t intended to put people into fear, but about helping them to bring their properties back into use, and make them aware of what funding schemes were available to them.
Speaking after the briefing, councillor John Fitzgerald said that the new initiative was to be welcomed, and was an “opportunity” for property owners to revitalise their buildings.
"There’s a real opportunity for people based on what you’ve explained to us today,” Cllr Fitzgerald said.
"There are people who are at a crossroads with an old building that may have been in the family or they may have been in business … it’s an opportunity for people who find themselves trapped in a poor market, there’s a very poor market for old, disused retail that isn’t available for letting,” he added.
"Having identified those 22 properties is a good move for the town centre, and the engagement needs to be made really well known … I’m interested to see where this will go," Cllr Fitzgerald said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Siobhán Ambrose said that behind every derelict property is a story.
"In some cases it’s that it was left to someone and they may not have the money to do anything with it, in some cases there’s an issue with a will, it was left between x amount of siblings and somebody thinks it’s worth the Euromillions and they’re not realistic to modern day prices," Cllr Ambrose said.
"I think it’s really important that people realise as well that the message that’s going out here today is clear, that people should engage. Don’t be frightened if you get the letter, just pick up the phone and engage and come in and have a meeting and see is there anything from a council perspective like what grants are available, and see if we can assist them in trying to redevelop this unit.
"I have no doubt that people get these letters and it puts the fear of god in them, that ‘oh we’ve no option, what are we going to do?’,” Cllr Ambrose said.