Public lighting sought for St Colman’s walking track in Fermoy
A request has been made this week for the installation of public lighting, ‘however minimial’, at St Colman’s Health Campus walking track.
Noting the high numbers of people who utilise the facility, local councillor William O’Leary tabled a motion at Tuesday’s Fermoy Municipal District Meeting, seeking the council to liaise with ‘whomever necessary to investigate the possibility of some aspect of public lighting’ being installed in the area.
“We all know the events that have happened in this country and in Fermoy over the last number of weeks and months. We’re well aware of it. It has absolutely heightened the fear of people going out walking.
“I’m looking for minimal lights in there, and if that’s engagement with landowners or the Department of Education or whoever, I would seriously encourage it,” Cllr O’Leary said.
Councillors in attendance at the meeting claimed to have received multiple representations from members of the public seeking the installation of lighting on the walkway.
Responding to the motion, Senior Engineer Brendan O’Gorman noted that the site is private property. However, he said that solar light is the only option for the area, which would require funding under an initiative, rather than the council’s own limited public lighting budgets.
It was noted at the meeting that St Colman’s Health Campus is run by its own board of management or committee, and it was claimed that the matter of installing lighting is being ‘considered or discussed’.
‘SURPRISED AND BEWILDERED’
In a statement, St Colman’s College and College principal, Veronica O’Donoghue, said they were ‘surprised and bewildered’ to hear that the matter was raised as a motion the council meeting.
“The college grounds belong to St Colman’s. The Health Campus and pitches have been developed over the last 10 years and St Colman’s are delighted that so many from the community have benefitted from this development. Any further development within the campus lies solely at the discretion of St Colman’s College,” the statement read.