Over 700 public lights throughout Cork County are to be replaced with new energy efficient LED lighting before year end.
The new programme is part of a drive from the local authority to improve the public lighting in Cork’s Towns and Villages and to reduce its overall energy consumption. LED lighting produces a whiter light which allows for better dissemination of colour making it easier to identify pedestrians crossing the road etc.
Welcoming the investment in our Public Lighting Infrastructure, North Cork Independent Cllr. John Paul O’ Shea said “LED technology has been changing and improving at a rapid pace over the last few years but has recently stabilized to a quality efficient product, which can produce an equivalent level of lighting at close to 50% less energy consumption than the older lights. Cork County Council needs to be commended for this investment which will ultimately lead to a significant improvement in public lighting for our citizens while also making Cork County Council more energy efficient”.
New LED Public Lighting proposed for County Cork.
Some of the locations identified within the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District in the 2016 LED Retrofit Public Lighting Programme include:
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N20 at Anabella & Beecher Street Roundabouts, Mallow – 47 lights
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R619 Mallow Bridge to Quartertown – 50 lights
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Churchtown village – 15 lights
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Millstreet (Drishane View Housing Estate) – 7 lights
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Ballyclough (Main St.) – 9 lights
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Millstreet (Drishane Road) – 37 lights
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Millstreet (Killarney Road) – 13 lights
Cork County Council recently led successful pilot LED public lighting retrofit programmes in Glounthane, the West Cork Islands and other smaller locations around the county. Following this pilot project, the local authority has decided to initiate this rolling programme of LED retrofits throughout the County which is anticipated to continue annually up to 2020 when it is envisaged all public lighting will be LED. Cork County Council has also recently been selected to lead the Public Lighting Unit within the Roads Management Office and that Unit will play a key role in the overall retrofit programme nationally.
Meanwhile, five towns and villages within the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District is to benefit from Cork County Council’s 2016 Public Lighting Capital Programme. A total of €400,000 of funding has been set aside countywide for new public lighting with €52,400 being allocated to the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District.
Cllr. O’ Shea said “This announcement is very welcomed news and will go some way in addressing the gaps in our public lighting network we currently have in the District. Works will include the installation of new lighting (also LED) which have been requested by communities and public representatives. This funding continues a similar investment of €400k in 2015 which I hope will continue in future years”.
Locations where the new public lighting is to be installed before the end of the year includes:
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Liscarroll – 2 lights – Provide new lighting around the Old Walls junction
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Boherbue: 2 lights – Extension of lighting on Knocknagree Road to Marian Shrine
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Churchtown: 6 lights – Install new lighting outside GAA pitch and residential area in the vicinity of Padre Pio Nursing Home
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Millstreet: 2 lights – Eliminate Blackspot on entrance to Drishane View Estate
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Newmarket: 5 lights – Extend lighting towards Collagh Bridge (Phase 1).
Cllr. O’ Shea added “These works will improve greatly the specific areas in our District. While there is many more towns and villages that could benefit from funding for the replacement of lights to LED and additional public lighting, this is a very good start and it is my view and intention to seek more funding in 2017 to continue this vital work for the people living within the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District. I also want to compliment the staff involved in the Public Lighting Department for their efforts in preparing these programmes for 2016”.
There are currently 40,000 public lights throughout Cork County which represents 10% of the entire public lighting stock in the country. The cost of public lighting in Cork County accounts for over 52% of the overall energy bill of the authority.
