A Stormont department has refused do carry out a “scoping exercise” on street lights in the interest of women’s safety.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) recently heard a motion from SDLP reps, who raised concerns over a lack of lamp posts in the district.
The call for enhanced street lighting is to be debated at the sustainability and environment committee later this month, though the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has already thrown cold water over its participation.
Newry councillor Doire Finn brought forward a proposal saying: “NMDDC notes with concern areas, which are lacking or have no street lighting, particularly in light of the issue of women’s safety and will in conjunction with DfI to undertake a scoping exercise to identify areas, which could avail of additional street lighting across the district.”
She added: “There are large areas of Newry, and communities throughout this council area, that do not have adequate street lighting in place. I have spoken to people, particularly women, who do not feel safe when walking in the evening due to the poor provision.
“Places like Heather Park and Kilmorey Park (Newry) have really poor lighting at the minute and it’s not fair that some residents in these areas are not able to use open spaces in the evenings.”
The chamber also heard from Mournes cllr, Laura Devlin who claimed “a number of gaps (street lights) right across the Mournes”.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked for the new DfI Minister, Newry and Armagh MLA, Liz Kimmins to respond on the street light concerns raised on women’s safety.
A spokesperson for DfI said:“The department is not aware of any existing street lighting on the public road network that has been turned off within the Newry Mourne and Down District Council area.
“Regrettably, the department would not have the resources available to carry out a scoping exercise on the public road network that does not have street lighting.”
The department has also indicated that the lighting in Kilmorey Park and Heather Park would be the council’s responsibility.
