Sandbank residents issue ‘let there be light’ appeal to DfI

Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy says she was contacted by a resident who said their local street lights were defective and that DfI had informed them that they would not be repaired as they were on a road that had not been ‘adopted.’

“This is nothing new and DfI are very clear on their duties and limitations with regard to unadopted streets and estates, but this is usually a teething problem from a new development and within two to three years this is resolved.

“The situation we face in Sandbank is that these houses have been here for over 50 years. Some of the current residents have been there over 30 years, many are elderly and vulnerable and because of this policy will be left in darkness.

“I have been liaising with DfI on the issue, but they are saying they have no way around the issue and the poles that house the street lights will now be removed. I have been told the installation of new lights would cost in and around £2000, not a huge sum for providing residents with peace of mind. I would therefore ask the Minister to intervene and provide these residents with some solace and of course light,” she said.

A Department of Infrastructure (DfI) spokesperson said: “The road infrastructure within Sandbank Cottages is not adopted by the Department and therefore does not form part of the public road network.

“At government reorganisation in 1973, the Department inherited responsibility for two street lights fixed to NIE electricity poles within Sandbank Cottages. DfI’s policy is that the Department continues to maintain such street lights until they reach the end of their life either through becoming structurally unsafe or the electricity supply is removed. As NIE now intend to remove their poles and Sandbank Cottages does not meet current policy guide lines for the installation of street lighting, it is not intended to replace the streetlights.”