Families can't move into Kildare homes due to water connection
Ambassador Place in Kill
UP to 34 families, some of them waiting nine years for social housing, are still in “limbo” three months after completion of a new estate in Kill – all for the sake of a minor mains water connection.
“There’s uproar locally, and everybody’s asking when this will be finished,” said cllr Fintan Brett about Ambassador Place on the Johnstown Road beside the GAA club, where 34 new homes have lain empty since completion in December, all for a lack of water.
According to a Uisce Eireann spokesperson, the delay is with the developer for not yet completing a quality assurance certification.
“All developers of self-lay housing developments must complete a quality assurance process prior to final connection to the Uisce Éireann network”.
“Uisce Eireann is working closely with Kildare County Council to complete this quality assurance process and once complete the final connection to the development will be made to the Uisce Éireann network”.
“The site, formerly occupied by the Ambassador Hotel, had remained vacant for several years before being acquired by Kildare County Council,” explained a council spokesperson.
“This brown field site has proven challenging to develop, however Kildare County Council, working closely with Uisce Éireann are finalising the connection of the development to the public water mains."
Cllr Brett added: “Townsmore (the builders) left here on 17 December, and there isn’t a sinner in a house yet.
“They’re all social housing, which Kildare is crying out for. It took the council over 10 years to develop the site, formerly the Ambassador Hotel, which closed 13 years ago.
“The water main is across the road, and its only about two metres of connection, but it’s not being done.
“People seem to be allocated but can’t move in and are in limbo, no man’s land, but they can’t move in without water,” said cllr Brett, who spent his professional life in civil engineering.
When asked who was responsible, Cllr Brett was diplomatic but indicated suggested Uisce Eireann could be doing more.
“I’ve sent them multiple enquiries, but all I get are these generic replies, so I can’t understand that these brand new, fabulous homes are lying idle.
“It’s a lovely estate, if only we could be told what the problem is, but my understanding is there is no problem.
“There is a bit of landscaping to be done, levelling and seeding, that had to be put off because the ground is saturated, but that’s it.
“The worst of it is, I’m getting all these calls from people, and I’m not able to tell them.
“Imagine the joy of being allocated a house, and it’s still just lying there idle?
“Some of them (prospective residents) have been waiting between four and nine years on the (council’s) housing list, and they problem for them is they have to give notice wherever they are.
“They just want clarity and they’re just not getting it.”
