Builders should help residents maintain green areas

A local councillor has proposed that developers of private housing estates in Westmeath should play some role in ensuring that green areas in those estates are maintained on a regular basis.Cllr. Ken Glynn (Fianna Fáil), speaking at last Monday's meeting of Westmeath County Council's Mullingar Area Committee, suggested that the Council draw up a new charter, compelling developers of private estates to give a commitment to carry out "regular grass cutting".Failing that, the charter should make a provision for the developer to give a financial contribution to residents, to assist with any landscaping work needed.However, Council officials explained that it was not in their remit to cut grass in private housing estates, and told Cllr. Glynn that it is up to residents of these estates to organise landscaping work through the relevant residents' associations."This matter is conditioned at planning stage, where a bond is imposed for the 'satisfactory completion and maintenance until taken in charge' of the development," George Lambden, the Mullingar Area Director of Services said."This has to be released by the bond company and can be applied towards grass cutting if all other options fail."Other options would include the Council's Planning and Enforcement Section liaising with particular developers in an effort to ensure grass cutting occurs."Cllr. Glynn said that he was particularly concerned about maintenance of green areas at Ardleigh, where he claimed the developer is "cherrypicking" as to what landscaping work is done."We had an agreement on this with the [Council's] Legal and Enforcement Section through Pat Keating, but nothing is happening," he said."The grass is so high in some areas that people have taken to coming out and cutting it themselves."Cllr. Glynn's call was supported by Labour's Cllr. Johnny Penrose. "It should be up to the developer to put some money back into the residents' associations if he's not going to make sure the work is done," he said.