By Catriona Gallen

DEVELOPERS, solicitors and architects will be pursued by Letterkenny Town Council to ensure each housing estate is left according to the plans.

The poor condition of the green area and lack of public lighting at Wood Park in Letterkenny will cost the Council and rate payer thousands to rectify.

Cllr Dessie Larkin called on the Council to implement tougher planning controls on rogue developers.

He said the residents of Wood Park had paid good money for their homes but the estate had been left in a terrible state.

"There is stuff dumped on the green areas and the lights have never worked. It is an issue of security and safety and should be addressed through the planning authority," he said.

Cllr Larkin asked that the Council start proceedings to take over the lights and green area.

"I know there is a lot of red tape involved but we have a moral responsibility as the planning authority to put this right," he said.

Cllr Damien Blake supported the motion and said the council were faced with a similar problem five years ago in the Meadowbank area.

"As a Council we need to be aware of what is going on. This problem exists through our failure to take action against the developer to ensure the area is brought up to standard. Wood Park is one of the worst areas completed in the last seven years," he said.

Cllr Jimmy Harte said it was time to enforce the law. "No local authority in the country has done it to date. We should look at the Director of a company and refuse further planning based on previous performance. Companies can reform but they have the same directors usually.

"Solicitor too are wiping their hands of such developments. The developer hasn't complied with planning. The solicitor should be pursuing the contractor for not fulfilling the contract," he added.

Cllr Gerry McMonagle said a "mountain goat would go on some green areas left in estates in Letterkenny."

"We have to stop bogus developers from getting other planning applications through. There is a bond for each contractor where did it go? Why is there no prosecutions and why are bogus developers not followed up? It is time for the planning authority to step up to the mark," he challenged.

Cllr Jim Lynch agreed and said "no mercy should be shown to bogus developers. Permission should not be granted if they have not left the last place to our satisfaction."

Cllr Neil Clarke said that the Council can refuse planning permission based on past failures to comply.

"We have to enforce planning conditions otherwise it is the rate payers who are going to end up paying." he said.

Town Engineer, Mr John McCarron said there was an application before the Town council to take over the estate.

He said there was a technical problem with the street lights which needed to be resolved.