A DEMAND that the ESB be invoiced by Limerick City Council for the cost of reinstatement work at Westfields, on the North Circular Road, has been made by former Mayor Michael Hourigan.
However, the ESB argue that it is not their problem and that the council must shoulder responsibility.
Outraged residents of one of the city’s most environmentally sensitive areas, which includes the EU designated Wetlands and wildlife sanctuary, are calling for immediate remedial works to the local landscape, which has been left damaged and disrupted following work carried out by the ESB.
Northside resident and former mayor, Cllr Michael Hourigan, has condemned the damage. His anger is also felt by locals.
“The ESB routed wiring from a junction box in Westfield Park to power new lighting for the Condell Road and in the course of the installation work, much of the park area in Westfields was dug up and footpaths were damaged,” he told the Limerick Post.
‘The state the ESB left the parkland in is a disgrace, and is hugely unsightly, with footpaths almost unusable because of the amount of mud and matter left behind, leaving children unable to play on some of the grass areas.
“All over the Christmas period, especially with the dry seasonal weather we had, neither the children, young people or adults were able to enjoy this wonderful landscape, and I’ve now called on the ESB to repair the damage caused.
“I want the city council to relandscapew the footpath down the wetlands area and furnish the bill to the ESB. This is one of the few public amenities on the city’s northside and is a particularly important open space, given that Shelbourne Park is still closed for refurbishment – it’s very important that these spaces be properly maintained and preserved,
“The local people are particularly upset at the amount of upheaval caused”.
One resident told the Limerick post that he was appalled by the disruption and damage done.
“It is totally unacceptable that professional units could leave this area in such a state, when they had promised to reinstate it as they had found it. We’ve had rubble dumped into the sanctuary and this, despite the fact that the council do great work and spend a lot of money cutting the grass, maintaining the paths, and commissioning report on the way forward for the upgrading of the Wetlands”.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the ESB said that as the work had been commissioned by the council,the reinstatement work is their responsibility. The engineer in charge was not available for comment at time of going to press, but Cllr Hourigan said that as the ESB carried out the work, the clear-up is their responsibility and that the council should invoice them for reinstatement.
