Repair works begin on North Main Street
Repair work began this week on buildings on North Main Street after they partially collapsed last year.
Work started on the buildings at 62-65 North Main Street on Monday and will be ongoing for the next two weeks or so, during the night.
A statement from City Hall to the Cork Independent said: “Cork City Council (CCC) has served a Section 11 notice to the relevant parties at this site under the Derelict Sites Act.
“This was done in the interest of residents and business owners on the street and the wider city centre stakeholder group, site works will be undertaken by CCC to support the buildings and to stabilise the side structure. In order to minimise impact on the street the works will progress at night, where possible. It is Cork City Council’s intention that any costs associated with these stabilisation works will be levied against the relevant parties,” the statement concluded.
Dereliction
Meanwhile, during a Cork City Council meeting this week Green Party Cllr Danny Boyle asked about the buildings and the council’s policy on dereliction and dangerous properties in general, as several other buildings around the city also need remedial works.
Fearghal Reidy, Director of Services, Strategic and Economic Development told Cllr Boyle that the Building Control Section of Cork City Council has well established inspection practices and procedures in dealing with dangerous structures under the Local Government Sanitary Services Act 1964.
He said inspections and investigations are carried out as a result of specific complaints from the gardaí, emergency services, other Cork City Council departments and the general public.
He added: “The Building Control Section is committed to treating any report of a dangerous structure as a priority issue and will promptly investigate any report. However, ultimately, responsibility for dangerous structures and places rests with private property owners.”
A revised derelict sites policy was adopted by the council in late 2019 and it is aimed at ensuring a targeted and streamlined approach to addressing dereliction in the city.
“The derelict sites team continues to receive referrals from members of the public and through various other means. Inspection of sites takes place and an engagement process with owners of sites takes place and appropriate action is then taken under the Derelict Sites Act.
“As part of current practice, the Derelict Sites team work in consultation with the building control team. This is under continuous review, but is subject to the application of the processes set out by law,” explained Mr Reidy.