Labour Bill targets developers of unfinished estates

The Labour Party yesterday chose Duleek, Co Meath, to launch its new Bill aimed at punishing property developers who do not finish housing estates.

The Bill was jointly launched by the party's Meath by-election candidate, Cllr Dominic Hannigan, and environment spokesman Mr Eamon Gilmore, who invited media on a tour of unfinished estates.

In freezing conditions the candidate and an array of Labour Party activists, including Mr Sean Ryan TD and Sen Derek McDowell, called first to Bathe Abbey, a development of detached, red-brick homes close to the town.

While everyone admitted the houses were attractive and probably expensive, surrounding land was strewn with rubble and mounds of clay.

"It has been like that for ages; you can't let children out to play," said resident Mr Eoin Holmes.

As the candidate and party activists moved through the new, suburban-style housing estates, the roads, often little more than lanes, appeared to have been left out of the development plan. Where roads had been widened they were frequently without a surface other than small stones.

In places there are still no paths, public lighting or, according to the election workers, public transport.

In one of the more finished estates, Ms Yvonne Powderly told Mr Hannigan that a telephone mast in a field behind her house was a cause of concern.

The candidate nodded, familiar with the problem, and nodded again as Ms Powderly mentions interference with the Sky television signal.

A lot of the houses in the estates were empty - "a lot of them would have both partners working" - explains Mr Hannigan.

However, Ms Susan Murray was at home with her four children, and was concerned about schools and childcare.

"I've a baby of three weeks, so if he can do anything to make childcare an issue I'll vote for him."

At a press conference in a local pub, Mr Gilmore outlined his Bill to punish developers who do not finish estates.

"The current Bill allows a planning authority to take into account a developer's track record, but they must get court approval to refuse permission on this basis. This Bill would put the onus on the developer to prove he should be given permission".

He said it also eased the ability of householders to sue developers - "and we are calling on all the other candidates in the Meath by-election to come out and support the Bill".