Members and residents of the T3 area in Tyrrelstown say they are fighting against the introduction of clamping into their residential area.
They say that T3 OMC are ‘trying to foist this measure onto the resident members, who have deeded, designated spaces, as a weapon to force members to comply with company rules, in particular those in arrears who are withholding monies in dispute against unresolved questions and issues in the area.’
One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of company sanctions against them, explained that residents feel let down.
“Back in 2001, an article appeared in the Irish Times lauding the astounding choices and opportunities that Tyrrelstown offered a supply-starved Dublin,” they told Northside People.
“Fingal Co Co “pulled out all the stops” to expedite construction of the 200-acre site.
“Pulling out all the stops meant short-cuts, oversights and the end result of one of the most complicated, convoluted housing developments in the country.
“We were sold the dream, an array of 70+ designs to choose from, competitive prices, builders with impressive track records, leafy boulevards and cycle and walkways lined with sycamore trees and discreet off-street parking behind them to keep it all fashionable,” they said.
“The reality is though, that this dream has been a nightmare, for many, over the last 20+ years.
“This T3 OMC has never let us live in peace.”
Resident Tom Steward explained to Northside People why there is anger amongst the residents of the T3 area.
“There is a dark core in Tyrrelstown which was left after the MUD Act (2011),” he said.
“A system which allows management companies to overcharge and to try and take funds from homeowners to fund the costs of running apartment blocks, paying for non-existent services, not providing services and the exorbitant managing agent fees to the companies they employ to manage the estate for them; nearly one-third of the budget.
“This was made illegal for new housing developments, but was never retrospectively enacted to assist homeowners in historical estates.
“Now, the boiling point is being reached again and the OMC’s are looking to clamp and restrict parking in order to force home owners to pay iniquitous charges for services which are no longer rendered, since Fingal Co Co have taken the majority of the estate in hand.”
Another resident, Gillean Guy, said there is a critical need for the law to be changed.
“Residents are anxious because their designated spaces will not be protected, as the clampers will only look for a permit,” she told Northside People.
“It adds an onerous task to people having to remember to get each visitor a ‘visitor permit’ who have daily callers for the elderly and disabled, such as home helps, one off visitors, doctors-on-call.
“Once clamped, the release is fee is extortionate at €120, at a time when people are struggling to recover from the repercussions of the pandemic and deal with inflation.
“The residents have a series of measures and an upcoming protest, tomorrow Tuesday, at the Purple Property Management offices in Swords, to highlight their plight and that of many other prisoners of OMCs Nationwide.
“There is an imperative need to update legislation, which Micheál Martin, Joe Higgins and many other TD’s have said is urgently needed over the last 15-20 years.
“It is time to stop this unfair double taxation of homeowners in many other towns and villages up and down the country.
“The mistakes of the Celtic Tiger need to be rectified to stop them being handed down to another generation of residents, voters and families,” Gillean concluded.