Edenderry main street.

Edenderry lightling change a dim idea says Cribbin

The council's decision to change the public lighthing in Edenderry hasn't gone down well.

 Cllr Noel Cribbin says that council has replaced a number of 'Yellow 250' (watt) lights with 90 watt LED alternatives, which he says are a “lot duller” and “unacceptable”.

 He claims that the council's decision to change the lighting is a “cost cutting exercise” and that none of the area's six councillors were informed of the change.

 “The difference is massive. The yellow lights are far better at throwing out light and also giving a far better and more urban effect from them. The LED lights are not fit to light up the street from one side to the other and are a lot duller than the yellow lights.

 “The cost of public lighting in the county comes in at eight hundred thousand euro per year and if savings have to be made then my proposal will be that the yellow lights be maintained on all our towns' main thoroughfares.

 In Edenderry, Cllr Cribbin says that yellow lights should be used “from Killane bridge to the Boyne bridge inclusive”. He says that LED light could be used on the other streets and this would lead to savings.

 “For the hard pressed rate payers in the Edenderry area, who contribute over €2m to Offaly County Council, and for the people of Edenderry I feel strongly that we retain the excellent standard of lighting that we have on our Main Street.”