*Balymacahill.
DRUGS are being dropped off by drivers along the M18 to an underneath bridge in Ballymacahill according to a county councillor.
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) flagged at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District that drugs are being “thrown out of cars on the motorway for pick-up” at underneath bridges.
She tabled a motion asking the local authority to provide a public light on a pole in Ballymacahill just off the Tulla Rd in Roslevan “in the interests of public safety and to deter criminal behaviour along that stretch of the motorway”.
Acting senior engineer Paddy Tiernan said the proposal had been considered but was rejected. “As this location is on a rural local road, we are not currently in a position to recommend the installation of a single, stand alone light at this time. One off lighting in isolated areas generally does not provide a measurable improvement in public safety, nor is it considered an effective deterrent to criminal activity on its own. Lighting needs are normally assessed as part of broader area based plans, where coordinated installation offers better value and impact. The location can, however, be kept under review as part of future assessments”.
Quin native Colleran Molloy stated that the location “may be rural” but is situated just underneath the M18. She admitted she was not pleased with the Council’s reply. “It gives the impression I’m asking for a pole to be installed, I’m not, there is a pole installed already and I’m asking for a light to be put on the pole. There’s activity at night where drugs are reportedly thrown out of cars on the motorway for pick up at the location”. Putting a light on the pole would improve public safety and deter the drug drops, she said.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) commented, “If there is a pole already, can we revisit to see if light could be put up”.
Responding to Colleran Molloy’s plea for costings, the senior engineer explained, “I have discussed this notice of motion with our public lighting department who look after public lights throughout the county, there is a reluctance to put up one-off lights in rural areas where there’s no other lights around, I asked for a rough guide on cost, I was given in the region of €1600-2000 to put a light on that pole”.
Tiernan added, “There’s reference to criminal behaviour and issues out there, I’m not overly familiar with what those issues are, there’s something a bit more serious that may warrant something out there so we can revisit it. I’m sure it’s not as simple as plug and play, I’m sure there’s some electrical works to plug it up”.
Costs up to €2000 are “manageable,” Cllr Colleran Molloy said. “If we need to meet local people to get further substance to their assertion, this would discourage the criminal activity,” she said.
