IT’S dark in the park in Skibbereen, Cllr Joe Carroll complained at a meeting of the West Cork Municipal District meeting, where he made the case for improved lighting and resurfacing works at the Fairfield (Aldi) carpark.

‘The car park needs to be improved before winter,’ said Cllr Carroll, ‘because soon it will be dark at 5pm and you will have people stumbling around in the car park. It’s not safe,’ he added. ‘You’d like a bit of light when you are trying to find your car.’

Cllr Carroll complained that the painted lines, denoting the parking spaces, are so worn in places that they are practically non-existent.

He also said that the car park, which was surfaced in its entirety some years ago, is getting so much traffic that some sections need to be resurfaced.

Cllr Carroll said he was hoping that some of the work, especially lighting, could be carried out before winter.

Senior executive engineer, John Ahern, agreed that the Fairfield car park would benefit from an upgrade.

He said a programme of works to include resurfacing and the provision of public lighting, is presently being prepared and costed, and that options for funding will be explored as soon as detailed costs for the work are known.

Cllr Brendan McCarthy said the carpark was ‘a brilliant facility’ because it provides so much free, central parking.

‘It’s full every day,’ he added. ‘And the weekly market, every Saturday, brings huge business to town. It has been an amazing event in the heart of Skibbereen for nearly 25 years’.

Cllr McCarthy said residents, people working in the town, and the market traders, would appreciate it if the Fairfield was given an overhaul.

He also urged the council’s engineering department to consider providing power points for the Saturday traders saying: ‘It would be hugely beneficial for them.’