*Photograph: John Mangan
A COMMITMENT has been issued by the senior executive engineer in the Ennis Municipal District to meet with residents in Hermitage to discuss their frustrations over resurfacing works.
Last August over a three-day period contractors resurfaced the entire road in Hermitage. The finished product, the method of spraying chip on top of concrete without a base, subsequent pooling of water, aesthetics and the splashing of paint along the walls outside houses in the estate were all criticised by residents since.
Speaking at the July meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) flagged the matter and thanked Cllr Mary Howard (FG) for highlighting it in March. “Being from the area I got it a lot on the canvass. I understand the senior engineer agreed to carry out inspection in both wet and dry surface, I would like an update on that and a timeline for remedial works to take place”.
Senior executive engineer, Paddy Tiernan said he has visited Hermitage “numerous times” and acknowledged that there were “some minor issues with ponding”. He said a gully is two metres away from where it should be located and that it will be moved “but it will take a month or two to get there”.
Tiernan continued, “I am happy to visit the site with you and the residents to walk through it at any time, that was the area where we felt work was required”. He explained, “It is not as simple as rip it out and put it something different, many people may not understand that because it is a concrete road”.
Cllr Baker Bashua said she would love to welcome the engineer to Hermitage. “I don’t have an issue with the surface, it was just put down wrong, I’m happy to show you with my layman’s opinion and not with an engineering degree, I am happy to bring you on a quiet day” to which Tiernan quipped that he’d “bring a hard hat” with him.
According to Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) the surface was not laid down correctly in Hermitage or St Michael’s Villas.
