‘Residents feel abandoned’ as Oakcrest saga drags on

Councillors have called for decisive action to clean up a derelict building site at the entrance to Oakcrest, as residents have expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress.

At the July meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, Cllr Ken Glynn urged the council to act swiftly, describing the site as "horrendous" and "unacceptable," and saying residents in Oakcrest and nearby estates feel "abandoned". He acknowledged the council’s efforts but said the pace of progress has left locals exasperated.

"This has been dragging on for far too long. People are fed up. The grass isn’t even being cut," Cllr Glynn said. "They just want the hoarding removed and the site cleaned up, even if it’s just left as a car park. They’ve run out of patience."

In response, the Municipal District confirmed it is pursuing the site owners under the Derelict Sites Act, 1990, and that a Section 8(7) Notice of Entry on to the Derelict Sites Register was issued in June 2025. A Section 11 Notice has since been issued, outlining the required remedial measures.

"If the property owner fails to comply, levies will be charged following a site valuation," the council stated.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly explained that the council is also working on a parallel planning enforcement file, and that the district is prepared to enter the site if there’s no progress from the developer. She said that is only likely to happen towards the end of the summer.

"We know what we want to do, and we’re ready to act," she said. "Our district engineer, clerk of works, and district manager are actively working on this file. We’ve also been in contact with residents, who are understandably upset."

Cllr Andrew Duncan backed Cllr Glynn’s motion, saying he’s "embarrassed" to answer calls from constituents. "Their patience is gone, and mine is too. I feel powerless to give them any answers."

The mayor, Cllr Mick Dollard, pressed the director for a clear timeframe, asking whether something concrete would happen before the next monthly meeting.

While Ms Reilly could not guarantee action by then, she hoped to be in a better position to report progress. "We are doing everything we can within the limits of the derelict sites legislation," she said.

Cllr Glynn concluded by reiterating a separate request for maintenance on a section of ground between Oakcrest and Chestnut Drive, which had previously been agreed. "Even that would show residents that something, anything, is being done," he said.