Additional public lighting needed on Sligo side of Manorhamilton’s N16

The lack of public lighting on the Sligo approach to Manorhamilton was again highlighted at the recent Manorhamilton Municipal District meeting.

Cllr Frank Dolan renewed a previous call for lighting to be put in place from McCormack's filling station to the bridge at Manorhamilton.

He said that vehicles exiting the filling station were entering “total darkness” adding that there were a number of walkers who used the footpath in this location and this added to the danger for pedestrians.

Cllr Dolan's motion received unanimous support from other local councillors with Cllr Felim Gurn acknowledging it had been an oversight not to extend the public lighting in this location when the footpath was extended.

He was told that the proposal to extend the public lighting along the Sligo side of the N16 was previously discussed with Transport Infrastructure Ireland's (TII) safety section. At the time the idea was refused on the basis that the public lighting would not be serving a residential area.

Responding to Cllr Dolan's request that funding again is sought for the public lighting extension a spokesperson for Leitrim County Council said “As this does not qualify for TII maintenance funding either, the Design Office (of Leitrim County Council) are currently preparing a detailed TII Lighting Assessment application for permission to provide public lighting along this section of road to the departures section of the TII.

“If this departure is approved, funding will be then sought for the provision of the public lighting,” it was noted.