Monday, April 23, 2012

Light goes out for church

The light has been extinguished for the New Life Christian Church in Kerry.

The National Roads Authority has succeeded in having an illuminated sign outside the building in Caherciveen removed. 

An Bord Pleanála decided the church’s sign could be retained but its lights must go.

The NRA had lodged an appeal against the lighted sign, mainly on the grounds of road safety.

The sign, erected without planning permission, had replaced one that advertised a restaurant on the same site at Garranearagh, 1km outside Caherciveen.

One objector claimed the 1.8m x 1.8m sign was a source of light pollution and that light shining in to a bedroom interfered with the ability to sleep.

The council granted permission to retain the sign but an appeal was lodged by the NRA.

An inspector for An Bord Pleanála felt the sign would not cause confusion or be a visual distraction to drivers.

The inspector recomm-ended the sign be retained, on condition the lights be removed within four weeks, which was accepted by the board.