£2 million investment in York’s streetlights

Thousands of York’s ageing streetlights are set for an overhaul through a £2million investment by City of York Council.

The council has a responsibility to maintain over 21,000 streetlights including 5,500 concrete columns across the city.

However, many lights were installed over 50 years ago in the 60s through to the 80s and are at the end of their natural life and are failing to contribute to carbon reduction targets.

Previous schemes have replaced around 1,000 steel and concrete columns and almost half of the city’s streetlights (10,000) with new ‘white lights’ or LED technology.

Approval was given back in February to invest a further £2million council capital funding into a new four-year programme of works to enable the remainder of the lights to be replaced.

These works are now set to get underway to install 2,000 concrete and steel columns and fund structural maintenance checks for 12,000 light columns city wide. All replacement columns with old sodium lights will also be replaced with new white light LEDs.
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Residents left in the dark after streetlight cuts

Cllr Andrew Waller and local campaigner Sue Hunter at the blind bend on Acomb Green

Liberal Democrat councillors say cuts to streetlight checks are leaving many areas of the city in the dark.

In 2013, Labour run City of York Council decided to end ‘night scouting’- the routine checking (scouting) for faulty streetlights by council officers. The council said it would rely on the public to report any faults. Lib Dem councillors ‘called-in’ the decision, but Labour forced through the controversial plans.

Lib Dem councillors now say there is a growing backlog of faulty lights with some taking weeks to repair. Cllr Andrew Waller says he has reported 50 faulty lights in the Westfield ward alone and concerns have been raised with him over public safety. He has also arranged for some tree trimming in the ward where streetlights have been covered by branches.

Cllr Andrew Waller, Lib Dem Councillor for Westfield, commented:

“Residents are concerned that there are black spots where street lighting is poor or non-existent. We need a clear plan to improve the lighting of streets. In Westfield there is a blind bend on Acomb Green at the junction with Askham Lane which does not have any street lighting and a large number of residents have raised concerns with local Lib Dems.

“Residents have contacted me saying that they would feel a lot more at ease going out at night if there was better lighting in particular areas, such as where trees are currently blocking out lights.”

Cllr Ann Reid, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Transport and Environmental Services, commented:

“We warned that the ending of night scouting would cause problems. Solely relying on residents to report issues is not an ideal system. During the summer months people don’t always notice the lights are out so there was an increase in reports once the clocks went back. This creates a backlog, which officers are now struggling to catch-up with. Regular checking prevents this.

“Labour introduced the cut without proper public consultation and they failed to take account of the problems caused the last time the council stopped night-scouting about 15 years ago. Residents expect their council tax to cover basic things like good streetlights and roads, but while Labour find millions to spend on city-centre vanity projects these basic services continue to be hit.”

Blackout raises concerns that VIP may get lost tonight

Andrew has been out and about reporting faulty street lights.

Amongst those found not to be working, and causing problems for residents, are three at the Acomb Green/Askham Lane junction

Streetlight 13 The Green – bulb not working
Streetlight 14 The Green – no lamp attached
Streetlight 1 Askham Lane – no lamp attached

Large numbers of elves are being deployed to ensure that there are no misrouting problems tonight!

Dim Council

York Council are planning to dim streetlights between midnight and 6:00am.

Residents, in part of Council Leaders James Alexander’s Holgate ward, were used as guinea pigs in a trial earlier in the year.

In January 2014 the council installed LED lighting in Hamilton Way, Collingwood Avenue, Stewart Road, and Amberley Street in Holgate with several being operated at 50-60 per cent.

The Council Leadership claims that residents did not notice that lights had been dimmed.

Problem is that there was no consultation and residents were kept in the dark (sic) about the trial.

No data on crime levels was reported by the Council who claim that the programme was agreed by the Councils Cabinet on 1^st July as part of its (no irony) “rewiring” project.

In reality only passing reference was made to street lighting in a report which ran to over 100 pages.

The Council says, “No comments or complaints were received on the varied levels of lighting throughout the trial”.

Given the flaws in the Councils customer contact system this is hardly surprising. You can’t even report, through the Councils web site, a faulty street lamp let alone a “dim” one.

The Council says,

“Over 1,500 lanterns in York will be replaced this year with a new ‘white light’ – providing a clearer light, which will help make people feel safer at night.

The LED lantern conversions will be installed over a seven month period until January 2015, predominately in the following areas: Rawcliffe, Clifton, Huntington, New Earswick, Copmanthorpe, Bishopthorpe and Micklegate.

The Wards that have been chosen are areas that house the highest number of 35watt low pressure sodium lanterns (orange light).

The new lighting will also help make significant carbon, energy and cost savings.

In addition to the new LEDS, lights will also be reduced by up to 50-60 per cent on streets between midnight and 6am when the traffic flow levels can be described as quiet. Although the level of lighting reduces this is still within current lighting level standards”.

It is certainly possible to make some savings – and reduce carbon emissions – using more energy efficient systems and lighting cycles.

Such a programme was started by the Council as long ago as 2008.

However, the cost/benefit figures – produced by the Council – now do need further analysis

And, of course, street lighting has a major role to play in tacking crime with back lanes and snickets likely to be particular problem areas when we get to dark winter evenings.

The Council has been secretive in its approach and has played fast and loose with resident’s safety.

They should be more open with their plans in the future.