Residents left in the dark in Offaly housing estate
Up to 80% of the residents are elderly and afraid of falling in the dark
THE residents of The Green in Clara have been without public lighting since March 11.
The Green is one of the oldest estates in Clara and according to resident Bertie McMahon between 70 and 80 per cent of the people are senior citizens. ''It was built around 1939 and opened around 1942,'' he said.
''We were not notified by anyone. I spoke to Councillor Sandy Smollen and she did say she would try to do something. All the lights are gone. There are people on the estate and they are calling on others to help them to visit family members living elsewhere on the estate.
They can't see where they are going, No one ever notified us about what is happening. I would have felt it was the council's duty to notify us and if at all possible to install some type of lighting in The Green so that the people wouldn't be in such danger.
One of the old poles up at the top of The Green is lit but apart from that we are left in cuckoo land,'' said Bertie.
''I am calling on the Council or the ESB to put in some sort of lighting before someone is badly injured. We feel like second class citizens. There are 140 houses on The Green and it's not good enough,'' added Bertie.