Kildare's public lighting is an 'emergency situation'
28,000 lights across the county
The number of public lights not working across County Kildare has created an “emergency situation.”
Out of action lights are not being fixed and there is no lighting on some roundabouts, Cllr Bill Clear told a Kildare County Council meeting.
“Many pedestrians who are killed, are killed at night time. I’m worried about this, it needs to be expedited.
He said there were delays even when the lights were repaired and he said the outgoing contractor was “very neglectful.”
Independent councillor Seamie Moore raised the issue and claimed “we don’t have a service provider in place.”
He added there is a crisis there and “it’ll be there until a service provider establishes itself.”
He said complaints have not been responded to and he said lights aren't working on sections of the ring roads, on routes used by pedestrians and on rural-type roads.
According to KCC, the public lighting contractor Enerveo has given the 24 July as the final date of operations in Kildare, following the expiry of their contract.
KCC has tendered for a new public lighting maintenance contractor, issued letters to the relevant tenderers and was expecting to award the contract in early July.
“It is expected that the new contractor will work through current public lighting maintenance issues, following the award of contract,” KCC official Celina Barrett.
Ms Barrett told the meeting that contractors are subjected to public procurement processes.
She also said that the new tendering process was the subject of a legal challenge and “this process has just concluded.”
She said the Enervio contract ended on July 31 and this will be followed by the appointment of a new contractor to look after maintenance.
Ms Barrett denied there was a crisis. She said there are 28,000 lights in the county and “most continue to operate.”
She said any outstanding works will be undertaken by the new contractor.
According to KCC, the technology system which accepts reports about faulty lights is owned by KCC. The previous contractor had access to this system while working for the council and the new contractor will receive access to it once the contract is in place.