Tidy Towns group offers to take over derelict 200 year old house in Kildare

Kildare County Council should  buy a historic disused property close to the main street in Naas - and if necessary hand it over to the Tidy Towns group.

Market House is located close to the Grand Canal harbour in Naas and was erected by John Bourke, the fourth Lord Mayo, about 1813.

More recently it was the subject of plans to develop a restaurant and  a new boutique hotel at the site to be lodged with Kildare County Council. The owner also says these plans were the subject of talks with KCC.

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Independent councillor Bill Clear wants KCC to acquire it by way of compulsory purchase ”for the benefit of the community.”

He added: “This landmark and historically significant site has been derelict for 15 years, creating an eyesore and detracting from the appeal of the harbour area.”

He said a compulsory purchase order would facilitate the restoration  of the property,  enhance the local environment, preserve its historical value and allow it to be used for community development purposes.

Cllr Clear described the site as “a serious eyesore in a heritage area” which has been mentioned in a Tidy Towns adjudication report.

He said if bought by KCC, then the Tidy Town groups would be willing to “take it off KCC and regenerate it.”

He told a Naas Municipal District meeting that the group had already done work there including fencing, painting and tackling shrubbery.

He said a possible use would be a scouts group  because of its proximity to the greenway and the canal.

"This cannot continue, it has to be brought to a head.”

According to KCC a number of steps must be taken on the way to a CPO, which “must have a clear basis in law.”

Where an objection is received to a compulsory acquisition the process can become long and arduous and can result in legal challenge.

After that compensation must be paid to the owner and this would be followed by substantial construction or refurbishment works, along with the resources needed to manage such a property once brought back into use. 

KCC is engaging with the owner of the property, which is on the derelict sites list.

KCC official Eoghan Ryan told the meeting that  the roof has collapsed and this would be a costly project. He also said a cost benefit analysis would need to be done

He said in excess of €75,000 worth of levies had been imposed. He said arbitration would be necessary if the owner and KCC had differing views about its value.