Just two of 10 streetlights operating in Leitrim estate

The planning department of Leitrim County Council has expressed willingness to meet with a delegation of residents from the Cnoc na Gréine estate in Mohill to discuss the process of taking the estate in charge.

Cllr Sean McGowan raised the issue of the estate at a meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District, where he highlighted that out of the ten 10 streetlights in the estate, only two are currently operational.

Some residents of the estate recently convened to explore the possibility of formally requesting the estate to be taken in charge.

A reply from the Planning department stated that the Council is “amenable” to taking the estate in charge, but it cannot move the process forward until it receives a request to do so.

He mentioned that there “are a lot of young children and elderly people living in the estate,” adding that the estate is in “good shape” despite the fact that most of the streetlights aren’t working.

He expressed hope that the Planning department would proceed with the taking in charge process once the request is received.

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All members of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District supported the motion. Cllr Cormac Flynn noted that, due to the lack of working lights, some residents have been searching for their children in the estate using flashlights during the shorter evenings when darkness falls quickly.

However, the Council is unable to address the lighting issue until the estate is fully taken in charge. This is because of ongoing bond claims, which must be resolved before any work can be carried out.

Bond claims justify the stance of insurance companies, and an estate is only taken in charge once a bond claim is settled.

If Leitrim County Council were to install lights in an estate that was still under a bond claim, it would be perceived as taking the estate in charge. In that case, the insurance company would not honour the bond, as it expires once the estate is taken in charge.

This is a process that has been decided by the courts.

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