200 complaints of anti-social behaviour at local authority housing in Athlone were made to Westmeath county council over the last three years.
Figures presented at a recent meeting of the Athlone/Moate MD have shown a massive increase in complaints during the 2020 lockdown, before returning to normal levels in 2021.
The majority of complaints were disputes between neighbours or estate inhabitants, while a smaller amount were related to management issues including hoarding of waste, parking of derelict cars or poor maintenance.
59 complaints of anti social behaviour were made in local authority housing in Athlone in 2019, with the 2020 figure jumping to 91 in 2020 due to Covid enforced lockdown's.
Last year saw the council receive 49 anti social complaints related to Athlone of various natures.
55 warning letters were issued to tenants across the three years, while 2 letting's were refused to tenants involved in the complaints.
During the three year period, three illegally occupied houses were recovered from occupants, one each year.
According to council officials, the housing department liaises on a daily basis with Gardaí to work on anti social issues.
