The village of Tang will remain in the dark for yet another year, as there is no money in Westmeath County Council’s budget for lighting.
There has been no money ring-fenced for new public lighting since 2008 and any funds will have to be taken from the roads budget, county manager Danny McLoughlin warned at this week’s annual budget meeting.
Cllr Joe Flanagan, who said he has made contact with the office of Transport Minister Leo Varadkar about the issue, described Tang as “the last village in the country on a national route unlit”.
He said he would love to have €150,000 to light the village.
Cllr Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said if there were any amendments to be made to the budget, €25,000 should be taken from the roads budget, and assigned to lighting as a way of beginning the process of developing a separate public lighting fund again.
He was broadly supportive of the budget and the reduced funds available to the council, but said it’s high time money was set aside for public lighting.
“Now we’re trying to promote cycling and walking - yet the areas we talk about have no public lighting,” he said after the meeting.
“Why put in cycle tracks and walking tracks if there’s no public lighting?” he asked.
He said Tang is a blackspot, where the council has done significant work, and the ducting is in place, but there is no public lighting.
He said a small amount of money would cover the costs and said next year’s budget must see some funds set aside for public lighting.
He also referred to blackspots in rural parts of Athlone where lighting must be improved.
The issue is to be referred to the Kilbeggan Local Area committee for further discussion.
