LED street light project reaches halfway point
An ambitious scheme to improve more than 20,000 street lights in Telford and Wrekin has reached the halfway point.
The Telford & Wrekin Council Pride in Our Community scheme to upgrade street lights with new LED lights that use less energy, reduce pollution and make it easier for residents to see things at night started in May last year. One year on, just over 12,000 street lights across the borough have been upgraded, which puts the Council on course to complete the scheme on schedule in 2019.
The upgrade to LED lights will also lead to savings of £420,000 by the end of March 2019 through reduced maintenance and lower energy costs. Already the upgrade has led to energy savings in 2017/18 that have saved the taxpayer £220,000.
Letters advising residents of when upgrades are happening are delivered by the Council’s contractor to households prior to work starting. Every effort is made to keep disruption to a minimum, with no work happening in residential areas during weekends, early mornings or late evenings. Feedback on the scheme has been encouraged with details of how people can have a say included with the letters and who they should call if they want to make direct contact.
The feedback received has largely been very positive, with comments helping to guide the project as it progresses. Comments have included:
“Very impressed, whole area is much brighter and feels more open and safe. Great improvement.”
“The contractors were here and gone almost without noticing them – very impressed with the way they worked, congratulations to them! The new lights are definitely brighter and I think will prove safer. Good job well done!”
“I am a telescopic user (amateur astronomer). The new lighting has improved lighting conditions by changing the frequency of light pollution and reducing upwards glare. Good all round, good installation, well done.”
“It makes the area more safer for people of my age and older. The new lights make the area much lighter and brighter. Thank you.”
Councillor Shaun Davies, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “These lights make our streets better lit, safer and more energy efficient, which saves money on energy bills. It’s good to see feedback from residents has been positive overall. Our contractor has worked hard to keep any disruption to a minimum, and our thanks go to them and also to residents who have taken the time to give us their feedback.”
As well as the street lights scheme, the Council’s three-year Pride in Our Community programme is also seeing investment in maintaining and improving roads, streets, paths, car parks, parks and green spaces. In 2018/19, £7.5m will be invested in delivering 340 schemes across the borough, which includes resurfacing work on roads and paths, road marking, new signage, road safety schemes around schools, another 400+ parking spaces and drainage improvements.
For more information about the Pride in Our Community programme and street light scheme visit http://www.telford.gov.uk/pride. If you have a query about street lighting, please email streetlighting@telford.gov.uk.
