A Circuit Court injunction has been granted to a developer of a housing estate in Cork, following a blockade by residents.
BMOR were appointed by Cork City Council as contractors to build 44 new social houses at Lios Cara in Killeens, with works commencing on the site in October of 2022.
Residents at the estate mounted a blockade on February 1st to highlight their concerns about the construction of the homes, saying that they were purchased for social housing without residents being consulted, with the Lios Cara Residents Committee saying that the refusal of the developer to engage with them forced them to take action.
In a statement issued to RedFM News, BMOR say that this blockade has continued up to and including yesterday, preventing construction and completion of the development by residents who have erected plastic barriers across the access road to the site.
A spokesperson for BMOR say that they held a meeting with the Residents Committee on Monday February 6th, with a number of local politicians in attendance while the residents also met with the executive and elected members of the Local Area Committee of Cork City Council on February 9th.
The statement from BMOR says that despite those meetings the residents have continued with the blockade, and have confirmed in formal correspondence that they will continue their peaceful protest indefinitely until their demands to change the tenure of the development are met.
The BMOR statement says that they been left with no choice but to seek a Circuit Court injunction to enable them to continue on-site, and to recommence works uninterrupted to ensure the delivery of the 44 new homes - the Circuit Court injunction was granted yesterday by Judge James O'Donoghue.
The statement issued to RedFM News reads:
As part of the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ strategy to address Ireland's housing and homelessness crisis, and following a competitive dialogue public procurement process, Cork City Council appointed BMOR as the contractors to build 44 new social houses at Lios Cara, Killeens. This development with the benefit of planning permission will realise the completion of the housing estate at Lios Cara which has remained incomplete since 2004.
Works commenced on the site in October 2022. On the morning of the 1st of February 2023, construction was prevented by residents through the erection of plastic barriers across the access road leading to the site. This blockade has continued up to and including today, Wednesday the 15th of February 2023, preventing construction and completion of the development.
A spokesperson at BMOR said; “BMOR has engaged and met with the Residents Committee to discuss their concerns as recently as Monday 6th February, where there were also several local politicians in attendance.”
The residents also had a meeting with the executive and elected members of the Local Area Committee of Cork City Council on the 9th of February 2023.
BMOR added that; “Despite meetings with BMOR and the City Council, the residents have continued with the blockade and confirmed in formal correspondence to all parties, that they will ‘continue with the peaceful protest indefinitely’ until their demands to change the tenure of the development are met.”
The spokesperson confirmed that; “while BMOR has no objection to peaceful protest, what is happening on site cannot be considered “peaceful” as the contractor is physically being prevented access to the site for workers, equipment and materials”.
“As a result of the continued protest by residents, BMOR has been left with no choice but to seek a Circuit Court Injunction to enable works to continue on site as of today, Wednesday the 15th of February 2023. While disappointing this will enable us to recommence works uninterrupted, ensuring the delivery of these crucial new homes during a time when there is an urgent need for housing.” the BMOR spokesperson concluded.
The Circuit Court Injunction was today (Wednesday the 15th of February 2023) granted by Judge James O’ Donohoe.
