'People don't feel safe' in huge Laois housing estate
Broken streetlights in a part of one of Portlaoise's biggest housing estates are creating fear among residents during the dark evenings.
It's also emerged that the section of the Kilminchy estate, which although built nearly two decades ago, is not yet taken in charge by Laois County Council.
That means it is still the responsibility of the developer and not County Hall to fix streetlights, as well as roads and underground pipes. However, a Portlaoise councillor wants the council to review the lighting and add more streetlights.
Cllr Thomasina Connell said that residents contacted her about the problem, and said the lights have not worked for months.
"It is very dark at the top of the Lake Vale estate in Kilminchy. People don't feel safe.
"Can it be taken in charge or what needs to be done to resolve this issue?," she asked.
She said that Lake Vale was built 17 years ago.
She tabled a motion to the February meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District about it, describing the area as "very poorly lit".
The council has agreed to consider the work.
Director of Services is Simon Walton said that some parts of Kilminchy were recently taken in charge and that another batch of Portlaoise housing estates are being planned to be taken on next.
"If there are specific issues regarding public lighting giving rise to public safety issues, our record is there that we have assisted. I am not aware of any issue preventing this estate being taken in charge," he said.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had seconded the motion and said "piles of estates through the years" had similar problems.
"My oen at Clonrooske Abbey was one of them, I am delighted that a light is being put in at the front now, I believe by the builder," she said.
"I hope I get the light Caroline got. I understand the council is doing its best to deal with all these historic issues. I hope we can make progress and get one or two lights," Cllr Connell said.
"Lake Vale, Kilminchy has not been taken in charge. Notwithstanding this, the road design office will arrange to meet with Cllr Connell on site to assess the public lighting at this location and identify a solution," engineer Adrian Barrett had replied.
The large Kilminchy estate on the old Dublin Road was built in sections by multiple developers over the past two decades, with construction again underway on more houses. It has nearly 800 houses and several apartment blocks.