West Wicklow Sinn Féin local election candidate Connor Byrne has called on Wicklow County Council to act to install road lighting at the outskirts of Kilbride and Blessington, and to extend the footpath on the outskirts of Kilbride as a matter of public safety. Particularly as figures released for 2023 reveal that 43 pedestrians were killed in accidents on our roads. The highest number in 15 years.
Byrne said:
“Working with my party colleague John Brady TD, we have been in contact with Wicklow County Council to push for the implementation of additional street lighting in the village of Kilbride, along with the extensions of a section of footpath in the village.
The area of the village in question is a popular walking route with locals, and there is a section of it which is currently unlit and lacking an adequate footpath.
I have had a number of people in the area approach me and raise this issue, as they feel the current situation constitutes a safety issue for locals using the road on the outskirts of both villages.
Many people have expressed to me that they would feel safer walking at night if there were streetlights along here and a proper footpath, and that the current situation is a matter of public safety.
A similar situation exists on the outskirts of Blessington, on the N81 on the Tallaght side of the town, where inadequate lighting is creating dangerous driving conditions at night.
There are a number of options open to the to pursue to complete this project which would make a significant contribution to road safety, particularly given the high number of pedestrian fatalities this year. 2023 saw the highest number of pedestrian deaths in 15 years.
I would ask the Council to take action on these issues at the earliest opportunity.”