A local authority has acceded to demands from neighbours of the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, that walls bordering their private estate to a new scheme of social and affordable homes be increased to 3m (10ft) in height.
The residents association of Bishop's Court in Ennis made the demand "to ensure that our estate is a safe place to live in, and that preventative measures are put in place to reduce the fear of crime".
The National Housing Organisation, Threshold, yesterday expressed concern over the move to build the wall.
A spokesman said: "There is a lack of ambition on both the council's and the residents' part. This should be about building communities, not separating them. This is reminiscent of gated communities you come across in South Africa."
He added: "The height of the wall is something you see in prisons and old psychiatric institutions and the wall itself becomes a source of tension. It is seen as a solution to a problem that there is little evidence for. It is disappointing that a measure of last resort is being used as a first step."
The residents asked that the height of the boundary walls be raised before the council proceeds with the €10 million plan to develop 82 social and affordable residential units in lands formerly owned by Dr Walsh.
Dr Walsh sold the lands to the council six years ago, with the council finally publishing plans for the development last August.
The residents of Bishop's Court also demanded from the council that security lighting be fitted to the rear of seven homes. They also asked that, as houses number 23 to 38 of the council's scheme back onto their estate, the council should allocate these houses to tenants with a proven good record in local authority accommodation.
They also sought an agreement from the council to carry out necessary work in future to repair, replace or improve boundary walls, gating and lighting should anti-social behaviour become an issue.
However, the council refused, stating that it could not be in a position to carry out works within the Bishop's Court estate as part of its housing scheme plan.
In their submission, the Bishop's Court Residents Association confirmed their support for the provision of social housing in Ennis.
The council's planner's report recommended the construction of the wall as it was "considered adequate to deter trespass".
