Cusher Councillors are collectively challenging the Department for Infrastructure’s refusal to adopt a well-used but poorly lit stretch of Tandragee footpath… where they are now proposing the removal of defective lighting without replacement.
The stretch of walkway known locally as ‘Trotter’s Walk’ was repeatedly brought up at a full meeting of ABC Council on October 27.
In attendance to provide a presentation on their Annual Report were officials of the DfI’s Roads Service Southern Division and Councillors seized the opportunity to have their grievances put on public record.
Explaining the longstanding issue of inadequate street lighting on Trotter’s Walk, Alderman Paul Berry addressed Acting Divisional Manager, Cindy Noble, saying: “I know thankfully, there’s replacements for 10 locations across the borough which, obviously is very welcome, but there’s one particular area, Trotter’s Walk in Tandragee, which has been a public path for over 60 years and the lights have down through those years become defective.”
The Alderman explained that following a site visit with DfI officials, he had been informed that the lighting – rather than being replaced – would instead be removed.
Added Alderman Berry: “Now it’s one of those that goes back many, many years and DfI’s attitude is – or position is – that they don’t maintain it, council doesn’t maintain it… yes it’s swept by us, but there’s street lights on it owned by DfI and I’m asking you tonight to consider looking at adopting this footpath in conjunction with the council.”
The path leads down into the Council-run Recreation Centre and also forms part of a popular “loop” walk around the town.
Referring to the DfI’s Active Travel Plan – which prioritises high-quality walking and cycling routes within the next decade – the Alderman said: “It has been used for many, many years and you yourself mentioned in your report about promoting very much the Active Travel and this is part of the Active Travel, where this is getting people out, people who I know who are retired, who walk this route on a constant basis and I’m just asking if that could be considered?”
Alderman Berry has previously raised the issue alongside Alderman Gareth Wilson and several other Cusher area Councillors, including Cllr Keith Ratcliffe.
Speaking in support of Alderman Berry’s points, Cllr Ratcliffe added: “I can sense the frustration in the chamber tonight with elected representatives and there is a lot of frustration.
“…I have constituents talking to me also about Trotter’s Walk especially just at the end of the week and I was going to have a chat with the Cusher Councillors here in the chamber tonight about a way forward, so I think we need an answer to what Alderman Berry had asked you earlier if you could have an answer for that and how we will move forward?
“I believe it is a health and safety issue, it’s dark at night and there are a lot of constituents using that path.”
However, Ms Noble’s reply held fast to the information Alderman Berry had already received.
Said Ms Noble: “In relation to Trotter’s Lane, where there is an issue with the street lights, as we spoke to Alderman Berry, that path was never adopted and never maintained by DfI.
“The fact there was lights on it, they were a legacy issue and we have maintained them for as far as their natural life and, unfortunately, because the path has not been maintained the Department’s policy is that we will not be street lighting areas that we don’t maintain. That’s the current policy.”
She did proffer a semblance of support from the Department, adding: “I think there is a possibility and – we have already offered – that we are happy to work with Council and the elected representatives and assist in any solution, if a solution can be found, for what’s appropriate and if paths were to be lit and possibly maintained by other bodies with the Council we will give whatever assistance there is in relation to the lighting standard and design of the lights that would be appropriate for that.”
Alderman Gareth Wilson said he was unwilling to accept the Department’s current stance.
“It’s going to be an issue to come,” he warned. “The public, they pay quite a bit in their rates and quite a bit in their taxes and it sounds like DfI are going to sort of wash their hands of this in terms of responsibility and that train needs to stop quite quickly in terms of that negativity.
“What I would want and, my Cusher Councillors would want, is a much more positive build up to trying to solve this problem and I am – and I know my colleagues are as well – very focused on a solution to this.
“Saying that the lights are going to be removed is spectacularly unhelpful and, it will be like that for people, so that can’t be the ultimate conclusion to this because you’re going to meet a lot of opposition to that and I just want to make that really clear.”
According to Alderman Wilson, the Council have already invested in an upgrade to lighting in the area – and while the investment has been to lighting they have responsibility for – he made clear that he felt further conversation in partnership was needed.
Continued the Alderman: “I’m proposing that when you go away there is a liaison with Jonathan Hayes here, one of our senior and most senior Directors in Council, to come up with a solution and I want to see Council as well do what they can.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t but we have put considerable effort into lighting that particular stretch to allow that walk to be completed. It’s now broken, in many respects, to the defective lighting, there’s a cable fault within a stretch of that, so I want to see some solutions to this and it will take a positive energy about this to try and break through this problem.”
Replying to the Alderman, Ms Noble once again stood fast, concluding: “What I have to say in Council today is that the lights that are on Trotter’s Walk have been deemed to be unsafe… so it’s a public safety issue, so that’s why instruction has been given that they will be removed.
“The Department is willing to work with all of the relevant agencies to find a solution, we are engineers, we can give the engineering solutions however that path is not maintained by the Department.
“We will work and provide whatever assistance we can to deliver a solution and – if there are funding mechanisms that can be brought forward – we will happily assist with the engineering but at the minute the lights are being removed because they are unsafe.”
