'Pure dangerous': Lack of lighting at Kildare-based industrial estate lambasted
The situation is allegedly affecting the morale of workers in the area
The lack of lighting in a Kildare-based industrial estate has been criticised by a worker at one of the units located there — one who has also claimed that the lighting hasn’t been in operation for a number of years.
The worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted the Leinster Leader to express their concerns about the lack of lighting in a busy section of the Kildara Industrial Estate in Newbridge, especially during the Winter months.
According to the worker, the lack of lighting near the An Post Distribution Service Unit (DSU) in Newbridge has allegedly led to a number of extremely close near-misses on the road.
They elaborated: “The near misses would be from cars pulling out without looking or stopping from the section of businesses nearest the main road.”
The worker alleged: “It is pure dangerous… In my opinion, that section of road is not fit for purpose.
“Why have the lighting in place if there is no guarantee that they will be switched on?”
The worker also claimed that the issue is affecting the morale of workers operating in the region.
Furthermore, they pointed out that potholes in this region were recently filled, and while they welcomed this measure, they stressed that the lighting was still inadequate in the area and needs to be fixed.
LOCAL COUNCILLORS
The worker said that they had previously raised the issue with two local councillors: Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer and Cllr Kevin Duffy.
They explained that they wanted to find out more about the owner of that particular section of the industrial estate, and to see if they could remedy the issue.
When asked by the Leinster Leader about the worker’s claims in relation to the Newbridge site, Cllr O’Dwyer confirmed that she had spoken to this worker.
“We discussed a number of issues,” she said. “It is a privately owned industrial estate and [the matter of] public lighting has been highlighted by a number of unit holders.”
As for Cllr Duffy, he told the Leader that he reviewed the matter for the worker.
Cllr Duffy also suggested: “An Post should contact the landlord to have the lights replaced.”
The Leader also contacted Kildare County Council (KCC) in relation to this matter, in an attempt to identify the landowner(s) of the allegedly problematic site.
In response, a spokesperson for KCC confirmed that the region specified by the worker has not been Taken In Charge by KCC. The spokesperson was also unable to provide the name of the landowner(s) of the site.
Lastly, the Leinster Leader attempted to contact the owners of Kildara Industrial Estate.
However, these efforts were unsuccessful.