Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:51 am Post subject: We have been forced to make cuts in our street lighting poli
Quote:
IN FRONT of a packed public gallery Blaenau Gwent council announced that they will be altering their street light policy.
At a heated meeting of the Executive last week a rowdy crowd heard that over the next few months all the borough’s street lights will be converted to a system which will allow every other street light in residential areas to be turned on through the night, between the revised hours of 1am and 5.30am.
This will cost £60,000, which will be funded through borrowing but in the end will create savings of £142,000 a year.
In the meantime the council have decided to switch on all street lights in residential areas.
Amidst jeering and heckling from an irate crowd, Don Wilcox Executive member for Regeneration and Highways sought to clarify the council’s position.
He said: “First, the 1.5% uplift in the rate support grant by the Welsh Assembly Government did not even cover the increase in our energy costs.
“We have been forced to make cuts. We have, as promised when cuts were introduced, conducted a review of the situation.
“Out of 13,200 lights only 7,200 are fitted with the Mayflower system that allows individual central control. This has led to an unequal and possibly unfair distribution of the lighting switch off.”
After proposing the revised system Coun Wilcox said: “This will create a saving of over £140,000 per annum excluding the £60,000 required for the borrowing, will reduce the amount payable under our carbon reduction commitment, ensure that early morning workers and school children will have fully illuminated streets for their journeys to work and school.
“No residential area will be totally dark throughout the night.”
Warning that the council faces another low settlement and the threat of a £423,000 fine looming unless carbon reduction targets are met, Coun Wilcox said: “I feel that we will have to seriously look at energy consumption across the council and I cannot guarantee that street lighting will not have to make a contribution.
“However the complete installation of the Mayflower system will give us total flexibility.”
Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law welcomed the decision which she described as a sensible and acceptable compromise.
“Over the past few weeks I have been inundated with complaints from people which clearly indicates the considerable strength of feeling on this issue,” she said.
“Switching off the street lights on A and B roads in the middle of the night should not cause too much concern, and to restore half the lighting in residential areas I’m sure will be welcomed.”
Cwm resident Chris Apperley, who led the campaign on the internet spoke after the meeting saying: “Most people seem to be quite happy with the solution.
“The council should have looked at this option first instead of jumping in the way they did.”
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