Housing plan for old garda station site

THE old garda station in Ballina is being acquired for housing.

A number of disused sites around the county have been identified for housing, a meeting of Mayo County Council's housing committee was told today.

Heading of housing Simon Shevlin explained how the council is targeting derelict sites, by way of compulsory purchase order or dealing directly with the land owners, and is also liaising with housing bodies and private developers.

Sites have been identified in Ballinrobe and Claremorris, and it is intended the buy a site in Ballina – the old garda station on Walsh Street (pictured) – from the OPW.

Further sites have also been identified in Castlebar and Belmullet and work is taking place at municipal district level to see if they would be suitable for housing.

The council would like to work with landowners directly so proper site investigations can take place.

The plan is to identify a number of derelict sites to purchase to provide social housing.