Sligos Oldest Street Dereliction Criticised
The comedian Spike Milligan referred to the street on umpteen occasions -- it was where his father lived. Residents have lived there, in some shape of form, for the past 600 years. It is probably the towns oldest street and Sligo Borough Council once considered it -- or the area behind it stretching back to the rear of County Library -- for inclusion in urban regeneration. Sligo Borough Council has in past three years also twice given the go-ahead for a car park to be created behind the remaining houses in Holborn Street.
Twice, too, Bord Pleanala has shot down those approvals; no surprise either since the entrance and exit to the car park was through the doorways of houses on Holborn Street. See Sligo Today 14/11/2013. Pleanala pulled no punches in citing "noise, nuisance and intrusiveness to local residents" in one of its refusal rulings. Earlier this week the street was described as "derelict" at the 2014 budget meeting of Sligo Borough Council.
One of Worst
Cllr Matt Lyons, who owns a shop on the corner of the street, said "dereliction has become a serious issue in Sligo at the moment. "Holborn Street is one of the worst in town for dereliction," he said. There were no takers for the topic among the other councillors present at the budget meeting last Wednesday night in the Town Hall.
Cannot Guarantee
The new County Manager Ciaran Hayes said "I will put it on my agenda. "I take your point and will see what can be done but cannot guarantee we will do anything," he said.