Living conditions continue to dog residents of Mount Suir as report expected soon
Mount Suir Manor has been the focus of numerous complaints about standards of living. Photo: Alex Cunningham
Residents at Mount Suir Manor have expressed apathy towards a review of balconies at the troubled apartment complex, with some believing the findings will ultimately make no difference in their fight for better living standards.
The complex, located in the Gracedieu suburb of Waterford, came into focus again when two children fell from the balcony of the council-owned Block C.
The two children - Jayden O’Neill (3) and Nevaeh O'Neill (7) - ultimately returned home after stints in hospital. The affected family are currently living in the Sands Hotel, Tramore.
Following the incident, Waterford City and County Council outlined plans for a review of all balconies at Block C of the complex. The findings of the review are expected in the coming days.
The complex was originally developed by William Neville & Sons.
The company still presides over Block A and B of the complex, which features a mixture of private renters, tenants in receipt of HAP and council tenants. They too have commissioned a review of balconies on the blocks.
Block A resident Rebecca Byrne described the approach taken in inspecting the apartment as "haphazard".
Ms Byrne said the safety review merely consisted of the balcony's railing being shook in an attempt to gauge its safety.
She said the inspector shook the balcony railing and commented that it was "very unsafe" to which she said she had been raising that issue for months.
She said the middle of the balcony is “ready to give in”.
Ms Byrne expressed disappointment at the short time it took to carry out the inspection.
She has been living in the complex for five years now. The balcony fall has been one of a string of controversies and reported accidents that have taken place across the complex.
Having seen what has, Ms Byrne doesn’t believe that the balcony fall will act as a watershed moment in improving the apartment’s underlying issues.
“I just don't think anything is going to come out of this. There's been people complaining about the apartments for years on end, and not one issue has been resolved. And William don't care for nobody.”
At the time of writing, William Neville & Sons did not respond to questions on the manner with which the balcony inspections were conducted and when the findings of the inspection would be disclosed.
Balcony safety is not the only issue Ms Byrne has faced. Chronic mould has dogged her apartment for as long as she can remember.
Having recently given birth to her second child, she said her newborn had contracted bronchitis from the damp conditions of the apartment and spent days in hospital.
“I emailed (William Neville), and I was like ‘look, this has gone so far now.’ My daughter is sick for four weeks. We have issues, the exact same issues.
“Now a newborn baby has been brought into the house, and he's having these issues already. ‘Can you get someone to come up and look at these issues for me?’"
Ms Byrne said she received no reply to the email.
For someone who would’ve described herself as “the happiest, bubbliest person”, she said the poor living conditions, coupled with postpartum depression, have put her mental health at its lowest ebb.
At the heart is the fear every parent experiences - the gnawing guilt of being unable to shelter their children from what can be an unforgiving world.
“You're getting told then that your two kids are constantly sick from living in this house. My daughter is then asking me every day, why is everything that I own mouldy, and is the house going to fall down around us?
“And you're trying to tell a five-year-old child that nothing is going to happen to her, that the house is fine - I can only tell her so much.”
A technical inspection into Block C is due to be released in the coming days.
In a statement to the Waterford News & Star, the Council said: “Waterford City and County Council undertook a comprehensive technical inspection of all balconies in Block C Mount Suir Manor - which is in the full ownership and occupation of the Local Authority.
“The technical inspection has been completed, and a detailed report is being finalised, and all necessary actions arising from its findings will be implemented.”
