Lives at risk as it is revealed 2,500 street lights broken in Derry

There are a round 2,500 street lights not working in Derry, a local councillor has claimed.

Last month, Danny Kennedy, Minister for the Department of Regional Development (DRD)  said his department would be unable to fix broken street lights because of budget cutbacks.

However, Derry Sinn Fein Councillor Tony Hassan has called for the policy to be reviewed before someone was killed or seriously injured.

Cllr Hassan said: “DRD Roads service told me last week that there are now over 2,500 street/road lights out of order in the Derry City Council area,” he said.

“I believe that the Minister needs to review the current policy of not fixing these lights.

“We need to put the safety of road users and pedestrians first before we could end up in a tragedy.”

Pointing out  there have been a number of accidents at the entrance of Northside shopping centre, the latest just a few days before Christmas, Cllr Hassan said there was great concern at the dangers as a result of a main route, such as the Glengalliagh Road, being "plunged into darkness.".

He added: "The Minister needs to resolve this as a matter of urgency."