Waterford councillor ‘getting tired’ of raising issue of streetlights out since February
Cllr Blaise Hannigan raised the issue at the July meeting of the Waterford Metropolitan District
A Waterford councillor has said he is “getting tired” of raising the issue of streetlights that have been out in one area since February.
Independent councillor Blaise Hannigan raised the issues facing Riverdale Park in Tramore at the July meeting of the Waterford Metropolitan District.
Cllr Hannigan said: “As you’re all aware, there’s been no streetlighting there since February 24 and on April 11, our engineer contacted the ESB and they had a look at the estate and they said that it’s cable damage.
“We’re still waiting for an answer back on that. I got an email back from the council after last month’s meeting and they informed me to ring the ESB Networks’ Complaints Department.
“I rang all three numbers and the answer they gave me on all three numbers is that they do not take representations from any councillor here in Waterford or anywhere at all.”
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He went on to say that he is getting tired of raising the issue and asked if it will be fixed before Christmas.
“I’m getting tired at this stage. I know that they (the council) are active on this but please tell me will the people in this estate, Riverdale Park in Tramore, have lighting before Christmas or will they have to go another year?”
In response, Paul Johnston, Senior Engineer at Waterford City and County Council, acknowledged the issues with the streetlights in the estate.
Mr Johnston said: “It was mentioned at the last meeting and I appreciate that there’s an issue with public lighting in Riverdale.
“We are awaiting an ESB connection there. I can tell you that there was a particular problem with the ESB, a backlog of applications that built up. That has now been addressed.
“I would certainly hope that the issue will be sorted out as near as possible, before the dark evenings come in.
“As regards the ESB not talking or taking representation from councillors, that’s really a matter for the ESB.”
He concluded by saying that the council is ‘at the mercy of the ESB” when it comes to new connections at times.