*Photograph: Allie Glynn
PUBLIC lighting in Kilbaha is “substandard” according to Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) who is also keen for infrastructure to be improved in Kilkee.
In a proposal before the West Clare Muncipal District, Cllr Keating requested Clare County Council “to investigate the substandard lighting in place at the playground and at the Memorial at Kilbaha at to extend the existing public lighting at the West End of Kilkee to the extents of the last housing development prior to the Diamond Rocks”.
Alan Kennelly, senior executive engineer in the West Clare MD stated that the National Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project (PLEEP) is currently underway in locations including Kilbaha. “PLEEP will retrofit / upgrade all public lights in Kilbaha (& all of County Clare) to LED. Once completed it is anticipated that PLEEP will deliver greater than 50% energy savings, reduce maintenance costs and improve ambient lighting and the visual environment, reduce light pollution and thus enhance public safety. If there is an issue with lighting in a particular area following the completion of retrofitting works, we can contact ENERVEO, the appointed contractors for PLEEP”.
On the appeal for an additional light at the terrace of nine houses closest to the Diamond Rocks car park in Kilkee, he said, “I would point out that there is a public light in place at one end of the terrace. This may not have been upgraded by PLEEP.
“It may be worth considering that an additional public light places a financial obligation in perpetuity on Clare County Council, a funding source will have to be identified to pay for the new lighting column. All residents of the terrace would have to be in favour of a new public lighting column before one could be installed. Public lighting is constantly on outside daylight hours, and this can sometimes lead to light pollution. Having a light constantly on outside a front facing window can upset residents. Assuming that funding is in place and all residents are in favour West Clare MD can contact our colleagues in Public Lighting and request that the appointed contractors erect a new public lighting column,” he added.
Kilbaha’s Memorial is opposite Keating’s Restaurant, Cllr Keating said “it is very important the lights are working because it is a busy junction, it is very busy in the summer time, I gather the work will be done”.
He continued, “On the way to the Diamond Rocks, there is one light looking after nine houses, we could do with another light there. I would hope that we get that light because it is a very busy area down to the Diamond Rocks, people walk there at night”.
Seconding his motion, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) observed, “we’ve had a number of requests for public lighting, as areas expand the need for public lighting is increasing. Is there merit in having a look to see where we’re at with the one in Cree and on the way into Cooraclare there is a few of them in the MD with requests in, could we do as one body of work, look for funding from one source”.
Several towns and villages have developments that are expanding, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) flagged. “The planning department are looking at the area of the land and not the area adjacent, it is lovely to have a light inside but a kilometre up has no light. The public footpath needs to be included and not just the estate, trying to get funding is next to impossible,” he said.
