Sir, – The plague of dereliction in our cities and towns continues apace. Strict building and insurance regulations and a poor Government response to urban renewal are taking their toll on smaller towns too. Living above what are now increasingly empty shops is not an option, even though we have a housing crisis. This means entire buildings in towns have started to crumble and in some cases need to be fenced off or demolished.
The main street of Letterkenny has seen a number of recently fenced off dangerous buildings beside our picturesque market square.
In Sligo, again recently, the High Street area has seen a number of buildings demolished by the council due to their dangerous condition.
Local authorities need to be given stronger bylaws to seize and redevelop derelict and dangerous properties.
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If successive Governments see the need to incentivise multinationals to set up here and create jobs, it follows that more local incentives are now needed to provide restored buildings to house both those same job-holders, local start-ups and, most importantly, families on the housing list.
It would reverse the trend of dereliction which is blighting our towns and cities. – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’CONNELL,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
