New streetlights to be 25% darker overnight across St Albans
Work to upgrade streetlights on A roads in St Albans got underway this week - and light levels overnight will be reduced as a result.
The streetlights are being converted to LEDs (light emitting diodes) as part of a £6.5 million countywide scheme designed to generate savings of around £660,000 annually from the end of this year.
They new system allows for light levels to be reduced at night and the county council is now planning to reduce output by 25 per cent from 11pm to 6am.
That is despite the volley of concerns which greeted the original proposal to turn off street lighting on many roads overnight.
Objectors complained that darker roads increased the risk of muggings and attacks and was particularly dangerous for workers who had to return home in the early hours of the morning.
But the county council has always maintained that there is no evidence of an increased risk of crime as a result of unlit.
Terry Douris, cabinet member for highways, said: “The conversion of our existing lights to this modern technology forms part of Hertfordshire County Council’s on-going commitment to maintain and improve roads across the county and benefit all road users.
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“The new LEDs have many advantages over the conventional streetlights used currently. They use much less energy, improve visibility and can be controlled and monitored centrally, which reduces costs.
“This type of technology has only recently become affordable, so we are taking full advantage of lower prices now in order to upgrade lights on our busiest roads.”
The work will be carried out overnight by the county council’s highways contractors Ringway. Some people living on an A-road with streetlights outside their homes may face some noise disturbance.
Cllr Douris added: “Even though work is being carried out at night, there may still be minor delays for users due to traffic management. Disruption will be kept to a minimum, and we apologise if you do encounter delays to your journey but would ask everyone for their co-operation while the work is in progress.”
For general information about the work, visit www.hertsdirect.org/streetlights. For more detailed information and updates visit www.ringway.co.uk and click on the ‘Hertfordshire’s A-roads LED upgrade’ link.
A map with details of which lights will be changed is available on the Ringway website.
