Former residents of the Beechpark Halting Site in Ennis have defended their treatment of houses in the estate, insisting the major destruction and dumping in the area has happened since they left.
It comes as Clare County Council is spending 2,000 Euro per week on round the clock security in Beechpark, while refurbishment of houses on the site costing over 50,000 Euro continues.
Local residents in the Beechpark area have called for closure of the site since it’s become a dilapidated eyesore but the former tenants of houses on the site have said the damage has nothing to do with them.
Astrid McCarthy and her family left the site in January following a number of tragic deaths in the area and told Clare FM she’s just as upset by the vandalism and dumping on the site.
But she’s annoyed to think some people may blame former residents themselves
Meanwhile Clare County Council has confirmed that the Beechpark Halting site should be ready to re-occupy within the next three weeks once refurbishment works costing 51,000 Euro have been completed.
The councils Housing, Social and Cultural Services Section has told Clare FM the 2 million Euro site was provided only five years ago and the council already has a number of applicants on its Traveller Accommodation list waiting to be housed.
Spokesperson Fiona Mooney says the council acknowledges the concerns of locals but closure is not being considered
