Street lights cut off over bill mix-up

PUBLIC street lighting on a Northside road described as busy and dangerous was disconnected recently when a billing mix-up led to a build-up of substantial payment arrears.

Northside People learned last week of the bizarre situation regarding a 500-yard stretch of lights on Jamestown Road, which occurred in early July and was rectified within two weeks.

Mystery and confusion still surrounds how and why the supply was shut-off as a result of a billing address error, and Dublin City Council has been asked to report back to local representatives on the matter.

It’s understood that the lights near Hampton Wood estate were shut-off for up to two weeks until the council became aware of the situation in mid July.

Complaints from residents and local representatives prompted the council to send an electrician to the site who concluded that the electrical supply had been deliberately disconnected.

In a letter seen by Northside People and sent from one of the council’s senior engineers to a local representative, it was confirmed that the disconnection was carried out as a result of outstanding bills that hadn’t been paid.

Two days of telephone communication finally resulted in the lights being switched back on

“following assurance that the outstanding bill would be paid

?.

“The reason that the invoices hadn’t been fully paid and up to date relates to the invoice address on the bill being incorrect with the result that we were not receiving invoices

?¦ for this particular location,

? the engineer stated.

“The invoice address has now been amended so this situation should not re-occur.

?

Local councillor Paul McAuliffe (FF) described the situation in which the council’s light supply was disconnected as

“absurd

?.

“I would have thought that the council was good for the money as it’s not like the council is going to go out of business,

? he told Northside People.

“I would have thought all this could have been avoided had someone thought of picking up the phone to ask if and when the arrears would be cleared.

Local resident and director of the Hampton Wood management company, Rosena McShane, described how the lack of public lighting posed an increased danger to pedestrians and motorists using Jamestown Road.

“The first time I noticed the lights out I thought that it was just a one-off until the following night I could see that people were getting off at the bus-stop nearby and having to walk practically in the pitch dark back to their home,

? she stated.

“Public lights along the road are absolutely crucial.

“That stretch of road is dangerous enough as it is as we’ve had four accidents along it in recent years.

“Traffic calming ramps were due to be introduced to slow cars down because of how dangerous it is.

?

She added:

“It’s bizarre that the council’s light supply could have been disconnected because they didn’t or couldn’t pay their bills.

?

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said the council wasn’t in a position to comment on the issue.