21 December 2007

CSS MOVES TO IMPROVE STREET LIGHT SHORTAGE

Britain is suffering from a serious shortage of street lighting columns, which means that some local authorities are finding it difficult to complete replacement programmes.

CSS, which represents local authority strategic directors responsible for lighting as well as other environment issues, says that problems necessitating change include an increasingly ageing stock of columns, many other factors such as more aggressive environments near the coast, and possibly even dogs urinating against them! 

Manufacturers are finding it difficult to keep up with the increased demand created by a number of PFI (Private Finance Initiative) schemes and more maintenance funding allocated to local authorities under the recent Local Transport Plan settlement.

Now the CSS is set to take a lead in addressing the shortage. Roger Elphick, Chair of the UK Lighting Board and the CSS Street Lighting Group, said: “In practice, street lighting columns are considered to last up to 40 years old and the backlog is based on this figure.  However, many are much older and the increased demand for lighting columns at the moment means that some local authorities are finding it hard to sustain their replacement programmes.

“Under PFI initiatives, capital replacement of street lights must be completed within a scheme’s first five years. There is also more money available now for maintenance of street lighting under recent allocations through the Local Transport Plan, including the recent three year settlement.

“We are aware of the problems that have developed over delivery times and the CSS will be working with the UK Lighting Board early next year to see what can be done to improve the situation.”

Roger chaired the afternoon session of the 11th Annual Surveyor and ILE Conference & Exhibition in London last week.

The CSS and the UK Lighting Board is also encouraging more local authorities to adopt the now well-established risk management procedures to plan their lighting column replacement programmes.  Columns most likely to need replacement are identified and this can then be followed up by testing and visual checks.

Roger said: “We want to assist local authorities to use money available for the replacement of street lighting under the Local Transport Plan to best advantage. In order to do this effectively, they need to undertake a risk assessment.”

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In the New Year, the CSS and the UK Lighting Board will be consulting local authorities and manufacturers to determine whether greater standardisation of lighting columns would assist. Too much variation in specifications is said to be adding to pressure on delivery times.

ends

Media contact  

Susan Tolman, Daybreak Communications office 0845 644 3845; mobile 07786 543430; susan.tolman@daybreakcomm.co.uk

Notes to editors

• CSS represents local authority chief officers who manage some of the most pressing issues facing the UK today. Membership is drawn from all four corners of the United Kingdom with members responsible for three-quarters of the road network, two thirds of the land area and just under half of the population of England and Wales. Operating at the strategic tier of local government, they are closely involved in crucial transport, waste management, environment, planning, energy and economic development issues.