1.9k city spacesin darkness dueto moratorium

He made the comments following a Transport NI report to Derry City Council, which outlined how much of the public realm in the city is under the cover of darkness, due to a moratorium on repairs.

Ten per cent of the city’s public realm has been left in the dark.

He said: “There are now over 1,900 street lights out in the Londonderry area, accounting for almost 10 per cent of the total lights.

“This is completely unacceptable. Our office is increasingly taking high volumes of calls from constituents throughout the city who have street lights out in their area.

“The most vulnerable in our society are feeling more vulnerable, the elderly are being left in the dark.

“The Department of Regional Development (DRD) Minister must urgently change his position in relation to fixing street lights.

“We have supported a proposal for the Council to write to the Minister highlighting our frustration on this matter and will also be raising this with him personally at a meeting in coming weeks.”

In September the Roads Minister said he’d been left with no choice but to stop issuing new work instructions to contractors, who currently undertake one quarter of the Department’s work, including gully emptying, patching and street light repairs.

He warned that this had the potential to result in many street lights being out across Northern Ireland over the winter period.

Mr Kennedy made the comments after the DUP in Londonderry met with Roads Service locally to discuss ongoing issues of concern and plans for future works and maintenance within the Londonderry and Strabane areas.