Failure to remove old Barrack Street lights ‘a joke’

THE failure to remove old street lights from Barrack Street more than two years after the street's refurbishment has been slammed as 'beyond a joke' by local councillors.

Cork City Council is understood to be withholding payment from the contractor responsible until the matter is resolved.

The majority of the works on Barrack Street were completed by 2014, including a new road surface and footpaths.

New street lights were installed at the time yet, two years later, the old ones have yet to be removed.

"It has gone beyond a joke," said local councillor Mick Finn.

"It is more than two years since the redevelopment was finished. At this stage, Barrack Street will need another refurb by the time these lights are taken out.

"It is not at all satisfactory that it has been allowed to get to this stage. I would be very critical of the City Council and the contractor responsible."

A report from the City's Roads Directorate confirmed that the 'a sum of money equivalent to costs involved' has been withheld from the contractor responsible for the work.

It is understood that the contractor will be given a deadline to finish the works before the money becomes available again.

Mr Finn urged the city to be more proactive in resolving the matter.

He said, "It is disappointing that so long after this work was done, we're still waiting.

"There is good work being done on the street and while there is still some vacancy, I believe that if and when the event centre work starts, there will be a lot more movement taking place.

"People sitting on vacant and derelict buildings - or failing to finish the jobs on the street - flies in the face of those taking chances and doing the work, like Tom Barrys, Barbarella and others."