Let there be light

THOUGH funding was set aside for lighting in Glenbeigh village from local development levies the seaside village remains dangerous for walkers at nighttime due to a lack of public lighting.

Local business man, Sean Falvey, believes that some-one will be killed if public lighting is not installed on the Cahersiveen side of the village – which is where there are over 40 houses and the local caravan park, which he runs.

A footpath to the village has been installed as part of promised works but lights have not.

“It is lethal without lights,” said Sean. During the summer months those holidaying in the village are walking into the centre on an unlit path.

“We don’t need a lot of lights but we were told that we would get them as part of the development of the housing estates but this has not happened. A path has been put in, and ducting, but the lights have not been installed,” explained Sean.

There is lighting in the centre of the village close to the Glenbeigh hotel but not in the area where most houses are located Mr Falvey told The Kerryman this week.

He and Cllr Damian Quigg (SF) are now calling on the local authority to put in place the lighting that has been planned for many years.

Cllr Quigg, hopes that lighting can be included as an overall scheme for the village which will include traffic calming measures - another necessary step for the village due to the level of speed on the Ring of Kerry road. This too could include an overlay of the village.

“Glenbeigh is an unusual village as it is probably the only seaside village on a national road. A design plan has been completed so now all we need is funding,” said Cllr Quigg.

Cllr Quigg raised it at Kerry County Council last month. In response council officials said that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have carried out a road safety inspection and that a number of issues have been identified and that a programme of works will be devised to address these issues which include lighting and footpaths. They added that pavement works in the village could also be carried out in the future if funding becomes available.