ESB boxes 'being used as climbing frames'

Fianna Fáil's Cllr. Ken Glynn has called on Westmeath County Council to draw up a policy with regard to the location and maintenance of ESB sub-station boxes in residential areas.Speaking at a meeting of Mullingar Town Council recently, Cllr. Glynn said that a box in Ardleigh Vale is being "used as a climbing frame" by children in the estate.He said that he was "perplexed" by the Council's response, which said that the maintenance of sub-station boxes is "a matter for the ESB".The councillor explained that he had raised the matter at full county council level before, where he suggested that the sub-station boxes be closed off with fencing or cement. He said that he has no response from the ESB about the matter."Residents associations are doing their bit for their neighbourhoods, and then you have these auld grey boxes in the middle of some lovely green areas," said Cllr. Glynn, asking for a commitment from the County Manager, Danny McLoughlin to "deal with the problem".But the Manager said that his hands were tied, and that he could only recommend or ask the ESB "to be mindful of where they put the boxes", or to "explain the rationale behind where they put them".Maintenance is purely the ESB's reserve, he explained.Cllr. Glynn said that he could suggest some estates which could be brought to the ESB's attention. "God forbid, some day we're going to have an incident at one of these boxes," he said, demanding a meeting with the ESB.He was supported by Labour's Cllr. Pat Collins, who described the boxes as "unsightly". He asked the Manager to write to the ESB on behalf of residents, who are "very conscious" of the visual effect of the sub-stations. Labour's Cllr. Mick Dollard said that he "fails to see why" either the ESB or Airtricity have failed to meet with members of the county council in the past."This is my third request to meet them in six months," Cllr. Glynn chimed in. "I rest my case."