ESB crews ‘lying down on the road not bothering to direct traffic’ as Wexford roads closed without notice during solar project
Wexford PeopleUpon its completion the Wexford Hub Solar Farm will generate enough electricity to power approximately 25,000 homes, farms and businesses and will significantly lower the county’s carbon footprint.
However, in order to construct the farm, the ESB has to install a number of underground cables in roads across the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD). And while the majority of those roads have been restored to their previous condition once the cables have been installed, one local councillor says the lack of communication with residents and motorists is an ongoing issue.
Speaking at the September meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), Councillor Aoife Rose O’Brien said she had made “many complaints” regarding the road traffic management of the project which will see four solar farms in Growtown, Youngstown, Dennistown and Mayglass.
“There’s been total disregard for residents and road users in the area and it’s incredibly frustrating for all those impacted by it,” she added.
According to chief executive, Eddie Taaffe, the council is “monitoring the contractor’s activity” for the duration of the works, which are scheduled to continue into spring of next year, and has “engaged with the contractor previously regarding complaints we have received”.
Cllr O’Brien raised the matter again in the Rosslare meeting days later.
“I’m blue in the face making complaints to the ESB about this, its crews keep on commencing work without putting up road signage,” she said. “Roads are closed and there’s no communication with motorists or residents.”
While Cllr Lisa McDonald said the works had been “very painful” for all those living in Murrintown, she defended Community Liaison Officer for the ESB, Sean Moroney, for his assistance while the works take place.
“I have to be fair and say that Sean Moroney and his team deal with any issues I raise immediately,” she said. “It’s been very painful, I’ve been living beside it, so I know, but once those works have been done and the roads are reinstated we’ll have something which will benefit our carbon footprint.”
Cllr Jim Codd also commended Mr Moroney’s for his efforts in ensuring people in the county aren’t discommoded by the works.
“Sean answers the phone every time, he has gone to people’s houses to allay fears,” he said. “I know it’s terribly disruptive laying these cables, but I don’t know how you do it without causing this disruption.”
District engineer Michael Brazzill agreed regarding the responsiveness of Mr Moroney and his team, but had issues of his own.
“At times there has been information lacking and signage in wrong places,” said Mr Brazzill. “Some of the temporary reinstatements haven’t been good enough, they need to maintain those roads until which time they are completely resurfaced.”
Quick to stress that she was not “having a dig” at Mr Moroney, who she said was “doing fantastic work”, Cllr O’Brien maintained that the crews were not giving people enough notice in advance of road closures.
“On multiple occasions works have commenced with no signage to notify motorists and a member of the crew lying down on the side of the road not bothering to direct traffic. That’s what I want addressed,” she said.