Geesala houses being rebuilt

Decision Peter Hynes

Geesala house to be rebuilt due to foundation problems

Anton McNulty

FOUR Council houses in Geesala, which were built just six years ago, will have to be demolished and rebuilt following problems with the structure and the foundations of the buildings.
The structural damage to the houses was first noticed in the summer when cracks started to appear in the walls of the houses. Following complaints to Mayo County Council, the houses were inspected by engineers who decided, on health and safety grounds, that the best thing to do was to knock the houses and rebuild them.
The houses are part of an estate of approximately a dozen houses and the families have been given temporary accommodation in the Geesala area until the houses are rebuilt. The first of the houses was demolished last week and the work is likely to be completed inside nine months.
Mr Peter Hynes, Mayo County Council’s Director of Services for the Erris region, told The Mayo News that the houses were built on ‘difficult’ ground and the raft foundation used tilted, resulting in cracks appearing in the walls.
“We decided that the best interests of the tenants would be served by taking down the houses and rebuild them. We started last week and the contract is for them to be completed inside nine months,” he said.
He also added that the Council were in negotiations with the insurance companies and he hoped the houses would not be rebuilt at the expense of the rate-payers in the county.
Geesala-based councillor, Gerry Coyle said that he became aware of the problem some months ago when the cracks in the walls started to appear. He said he was talking to the families involved who said despite the inconvenience they were happy with the plans.