‘A farce’: Frustrated resident calls out lighting situation in Kildare region

The state of lighting in one region of Kildare has been heavily criticised by a resident in the area, who has referred to it as "a farce".

Pat O'Mahony informed the Leinster Leader of lighting issues which have been affecting the Roseberry area of Newbridge for the past number of months.

He specified that the the region in question measures from "Carroll’s Corner, or 'The College Corner', to the end of the houses on the riverside, before the rail".

According to Mr O'Mahoney, the site in question was in "complete darkness" for much of last Winter.

He added that during this time, the region was "pitch black" and people passing through were being blinded by the lights of oncoming cars.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey echoed a similar concern earlier this year at the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting held back in January, where he asked Kildare County Council (KCC) why Roseberry residents had been "deprived" of urban lighting for so long back in December.

In response, Cllr Heavey was told by KCC that the ESB had been "overwhelmed" by Storm Darragh, leading to delays in addressing the situation.

OPPOSITE ISSUE

According to Mr O'Mahony, the lighting in the area has recently gone the opposite way: the lights are on 24 / 7.

He further claimed that the whole situation is making local residents feel deflated — "They have given up," he added.

Mr O'Mahony has since brought the issue to local representatives in Newbridge. He added that he has sympathy for these local representatives: "They are getting criticised for something that they cannot solve as individual councillors or TDs."

A set of lights in Roseberry turned on during the daytime. Photograph provided by Pat O'Mahony.

Mr O'Mahony further said that he has not gone to KCC headquarters to discuss the issue. Explaining his stance, Mr O'Mahony said: "The public has more to be doing. It is not our job to do it [to keep reminding KCC to address the issue]."

He also expressed his view that that the situation in Roseberry is symptomatic of a wider issue in Ireland: "The public sector has lost its way; there doesn't seem to be any sense of accountability."

Lastly, Mr O'Mahony pointed out the amount of electricity the lights are using up, and questioned how this would benefit the local environment.

MAYOR'S COMMENTS

The Mayor of the Kildare-Newbridge MD, Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer, also commented on the lighting situation in Roseberry last month.

She said via a social media post on March 12 last: "I have been making representation on behalf of the residents / business owners for a number of months on this intermittent problem.

"The risk of trips and falls and safety is of grave concern and today I received the most recent update from Kildare County Council which I requested last week."

Mayor O'Dwyer further said that KCC informed her that her request was examined by the Transport Public Lighting Team in the Transport and Mobility Department.

Once again, KCC said that it is in the process of "trying to get the ESB to have the switching wire moved on a permanent live feed and to cut the tree branches".

KCC's response to Mayor O'Dwyer echoes its reply to the Leinster Leader, when it was asked about the situation and how it plans to address it.

According to KCC, the fault at Roseberry is being "caused by overhanging branches" that are "dangerously close" to overhead power lines.

"For this reason, Kildare County Council cannot resolve the issue independently and continues to engage with the ESB regarding this matter," KCC added.

SWITCH WIRE PLAN

At the latest Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting, which took place on March 19 last, Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender raised the issue of lighting in the Roseberry area.

He asked KCC to provide an update on the public lighting situation in Roseberry, Athgarvan, and Kilcullen, "including details on any planned upgrades, maintenance schedules, and timelines for addressing any outstanding issues".

KCC issued a response to Cllr Pender in three parts, each relating to the aforementioned three areas.

For its response relating to Roseberry, KCC said: "Kildare County Council are liaising with ESB to come up with a plan to remove the switch wire and have the lights on individual photocells, so that a fault in one light does not affect the whole estate."

As for Athgarvan, KCC said: "This has been resolved, and the new lighting infrastructure is now operational."

Lastly, for Kilcullen, KCC told Cllr Pender: "ESB have advised that they will be on site within the next two weeks."

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