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Council to spend £14m on street lights

Teesside councillors have approved a multi-million pound overhaul of street lights as part of a long-term cost-cutting plan.

Stockton Council, which has to save £18m over the next three years, will spend the cash on replacing 28,000 lights using super-efficient LED bulbs to save on energy costs.

It’s estimated the authority spends more than £1.5m a year on running street lights, making up to thirds of the council’s energy bill, excluding schools.

But the council’s cabinet heard that, based on the performance of existing lighting stock and predicted energy price increases, the authority’s street lighting costs are expected to increase by more than £418,000 a year by 2021.

As reported locally, it was said the initial £14m outlay to overhaul the lights and replace all columns older than 25 years the money could be recouped in around eight years due to improved energy efficiency.

Cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Mike Smith, accepted the scheme would cost “an enormous amount of money”, but said savings made as a result of the investment “would be a big bonus in some of the costs we are going to see over the next few years”.

Councillor Steve Nelson (Labour) said some of the new LED lights had been piloted in his ward in Norton.

“I think it’s OK but some residents think it’s not quite as good,” he said.

“With these pilots there are always lessons to be learned, I’m sure it’s going to be fine.”

The decision comes after the authority agreed to cut services, with the loss of 300 jobs, as part of other money-saving measures.

Previously-agreed cuts could also result in the closure of the Wynyard Woodland Park planetarium, reductions in opening hours at libraries, and cuts to subsidies to schools and colleges for careers advice.

But Ingleby Barwick councillor David Harrington (Ingleby Barwick Independent Society) said he fully supported the lighting overhaul, adding: “We should be looking at this as a really positive investment.”

The proposal will be considered by full council in March.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .