I ask Mr Joseph Gilhooly Director of Services Infrastructure, to give an update on the application by a number of the residents to have the Lock Estate in Rooskey taken in charge? There is no public lighting in the estate and it is extremely dark for the residents who live there.
Minutes:
"I ask Mr Joseph Gilhooly Director of Services Infrastructure, to give an update on the application by a number of the residents to have the Lock Estate in Rooskey taken in charge? There is no public lighting in the estate, and it is extremely dark for the residents who live there."
Report by Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation.
"As advised at the Council meeting of March 2021, due to the delays caused by COVID, the Council is unlikely to be in a position to take any further estates in charge this year and it will likely be 2022 before the next tranche of estates can have the processes required to be taken in charge finalised. The Lock estate in Roosky is a relatively recent applicant for taking in charge, having only requested same in late July 2019. Whilst the Council normally prioritises taking in charge requests based on the date a request was made, in the case of The Lock, as it is a small development that has been completed for over 20 years, and where no works to complete the development are required, it has decided to include this estate in the next tranche that will be considered for taking in charge.
With regard to the issue of the lack of street lighting in this estate, it should be noted that the development sought planning permission without any street lighting being proposed, with permission being granted on that basis: it would be assumed that the purchasers of any properties within this development were cognisant of what they were purchasing. As the estate was not intended to have street lighting provided as an integral part of the development, the Council will not be providing any street lighting as part of the taking in charge process and any street lighting at this location will have to be included as part of the Council’s street lighting programme where it will be subject to the usual budgetary and priority considerations."
Councillor Sean McGowan gave the background to his motion and acknowledged that no estates are being taken in charge currently due to the delays caused by COVID. Councillor Sean McGowan said 3-4 lights should be sufficient to address the lighting issue and he asked that this work be carried out. Councillor McGowan noted some ducting was provided for lighting when the estate was being built.
Councillor Sean McGowan referred to a deposit that was lodged when the estate was being built and queried if this could be used for the provision of public lighting in the estate.
Councillor Thomas Mulligan and Councillor Des Guckian supported the motion.
Mr Joseph Gilhooly said he will revert to Councillor McGowan in relation to the deposit. Mr Joseph Gilhooley stated that The Lock is a small development that has been completed for over 20 years and the development sought planning permission without any street lighting being proposed and planning permission was granted on that basis. There are no works required to complete the development. This estate is included in the next tranche of estates that will be considered for taking in charge. As the estate was not intended to have street lighting provided as part of the development, the Council will not be providing any street lighting as part of the taking in charge process. Any street lighting at this location will have to be included as part of the Council’s public lighting programme.
Alternatively the Council will be happy to explore with the residents other external avenues to fund the street lighting.
Councillor Sean McGowan asked that the Council have discussions with the residents in this regard and he said he cannot understand why lighting was not included as part of the planning application.
Councillor Des Guckian said an application should be made to have this estate taken in charge.
Mr Joseph Gilhooly said this application is already in place and the estate is in the queue for consideration.