Ballinrobe derelict sites to progress to CPO

Ciara Galvin

THREE derelict sites in Ballinrobe are set to progress to Compulsory Purchase Order stage (CPO), the AGM of Ballinrobe Community Development Council has been told.
At the CDC annual general meeting members were told that three sites have been identified in the town and will now progress to CPO stage, with the possibility of more being added.
A CPO is a legal function that allows certain statutory bodies which need to take land or property to do so without the consent of the owner. The compulsory acquisition of land takes place to allow a public infrastructure project to go ahead for the common good.
The meeting heard that if the properties progress, Ballinrobe will be the first town in the county to have CPO auctioning.
Owners of these properties, located on the Castlebar Rd, Creagh Rd and Convent Rd will be notified in the coming weeks and the CPOs will be published and the owners will then have a chance to object.
“We have to move on the town, it’s unfortunate it’s came to this but it’s for the betterment of the town, it has been a serious concern,” said Cllr O’Brien.
Speaking to The Mayo News about the progress on these sites, Peter Heaps from Ballinrobe Tidy Towns, said ‘any improvement is a positive’ but said more needed to be done.
“Any improvement is a positive, but there are a lot of other rundown buildings in the town  that aren’t on the derelict register which do need attention.”
Mr Heaps outlined that there had been talks of CPOs for some time now and he hopes that this latest announcement will bring with it some action.
“Some of them [derelict sites] are owned by people who live out of the town who don’t really seem to care as long as it’s not costing them money or they’re getting money in rent.”

Vacant properties
While the issue of derelict properties is proving an issue for the optics of the town, auctioneer and estate agent Emma Gill of Emma Gill Property Partners said vacant properties are also proving a problem.
Ms Gill told The Mayo News that the market is ‘starved’ at the moment, but that properties are lying idle.
“I have a portfolio of mortgage approved purchasers ready and waiting but are finding it difficult in the current climate with a low level of properties being advertised. They’re looking to get on the property ladder and can’t due to the lack of supply, while properties are sitting vacant.”
Ms Gill said the lack of supply on sites like Daft.ie do not correlate with the level of properties in the area.
“Every second property is vacant, it’s a pity because people are ready to find their first, and possibly their forever home. More and more people are looking at Ballinrobe as a base, and this can only be positive for the town, the more people that locate here the increase in investment in amenities, infrastructure and indeed the local economy,” said the estate agent.