‘Forgotten estate’ in Trim to be finally taken in charge

A LONG-RUNNING saga for residents of Maudlin Vale in Trim who were left for many years living in an unfinished estate is to finally to come to an end with news that the estate will be taken in charge.

For years residents had highlighted how they were the "forgotten estate" as the houses of their dreams turned into a nightmare when the economic crash left them in one of the last unfinished estates of the Celtic Tiger. For well over a decade, residents had spoken out about issues in the unfinished estate with the Meath Chronicle highlighting their plight on several occasions.

The original development was built by Baltra Developments who built the first phase of houses but did not complete the development before the economic crash.

In recent years the remainder of the homes were built by another developer- Mulleady Homes- and now there is good news for residents as the council finally moves to take the estate in charge.

At the their meeting on Friday, Trim area councillors approved the taking in charge of Maudlin Vale estate after they heard that the council was satisfied that all outstanding works in had been carried out and that following an inspection, it was recommending that the estate be taken in charge. It went out to public display and no submissions were received. It will now go before full council to be rubber stamped. Councillors were told that first phase of homes were completed many years ago and part of the conditions of the construction of the remainder of the development was to bring phase one up to a standard that it could be taken in charge.

They heard that the remedial works had been carried out to the first phase as identified by the council and that the new part of the development also up to an acceptable standard and that the road into the estate had been surfaced. It was confirmed that both the older part and new part of the estate were being taken in charge.

Cllr Noel French thanked the council for their work and said it was one of their only unfinished estates in the area and he had great sympathy for the people who lived there and the news was really welcome.

Cllr Joe Fox also welcomed it and said it was residents who were victims of the economic crash and it was just left there so it was great to see it fully taken in charge.

Cllr Paul O'Rourke queried what is the issue with the parcel of land that is not being taken in charge in the middle of the estate and was told that it is not in the ownership of the developer so they could not apply for it to be taken in charge.