The first phase of a multi-million pound programme to replace old lighting columns and lamps in Neath Port Talbot is about to start.
Neath Port Talbot Council has recognised the need to improve its aged street lighting stock so has drawn up plans to replace around three quarters of its lighting columns over the next few years.
The £2.5m first phase of the project is to replace all equipment (about 4000 lamps) on power company wood poles. Centre Great Ltd. has been appointed to undertake the work which is expected to begin early in October 2011.
The new ‘white’ lights being installed in the first phase will use less energy and the new equipment can be centrally controlled, for example, to provide for dimming of lamps in the early hours of the morning as planned, to save further energy.
In Middleton Street, Briton Ferry where the new lower energy lights for the first phase have been trialled, 74% of householders when asked felt the new ‘white’ lights where an improvement over the previous ‘yellow’ lights. Only 2% thought the new lights were not as good.
The Council currently pays around £800,000 in energy bills for public lighting and using less energy will help keep costs down in future. The improvements and equipment renewal will secure service provision going forward.
Residents in the areas where wood pole lights are due to be replaced shortly, may in the intervening period find that isolated faulty lamps will not be repaired in advance of replacement to avoid wasting resources.
Council Leader Ali Thomas said maintaining good street lighting is a priority for the Council. He said:”We have had concerns about ageing columns and equipment for some time, so we have planned to make this major investment in the infrastructure.
“We have investigated options to ensure what we are doing provides value for money and we are honouring our pledge made when setting this year’s budget that we would not be switching off and removing lights to save money like some other Councils.
“It is important that residents feel safe in their communities and that they feel able to walk around the streets at night.”
The Council’s infrastructure includes 18,298 lighting columns.
The overall project over the next five years aims to renew around 14,400 existing lighting units.
