Fine Gael Town Councillor Ger Deere has proposed a motion for debate at the next meeting of Castlebar Town Council calling on Eircom to replace all of their concrete manhole covers. The recent cold spell has caused some of their older concrete covers to completely disintegrate, and the motion calls on Eircom to replace them as a matter of urgency.
They pose a serious health and safety risk, particularly at night where poor lighting conditions may result in someone actually getting stuck in one of the manholes, Cllr Deere has said. “Considering that active electrical circuits are also involved only increases the risk of serious injury to pedestrians,” he added.
“Unfortunately the cold conditions experienced recently have completely eroded the concrete manhole covers, leading them to fall apart. Some have not been replaced in over 20 years and still have the P&T brand attached to them. Personally I have had to erect temporary covers and warning signs because of the risk involved to anyone using the affected footpaths. They need to be repaired as soon as possible and should be considered as a matter of urgency because someone will be seriously injured from them.”
