Council’s new lights programme is streets ahead

Blackburn with Darwen Council is investing nearly £10m in new LED street lights in the borough, resulting in 50 per cent savings in future energy bills.

It is part of the Council’s “invest to save” programme which is aimed at working smarter and more cost effectively.

The new lanterns will last 20 years and are guaranteed, use half the energy, need minimal maintenance and reduce the Council’s carbon emissions.

The award of the tender for the works was approved at last night’s Executive Board. The scheme has already been approved and is in the Council’s capital programme.

Last year, the Council approved an investment of £10m in the borough’s road network as part of its invest to save strategy.

The multi-million programme will result in hundreds of roads being resurfaced or repaired as part of a new maintenance regime designed to reduce the overall amount spent on highway repairs.

The street lighting retrofit will begin in April and take two years to complete. The majority of the lighting columns will remain and the current energy inefficient filament lights will be replaced with the new ones.

The Council has worked collaboratively with Warrington Council on the procurement.

Cllr Maureen Bateson Executive member for Regeneration Said:

“Over the next two years, the Council is investing funds in our street lighting to help us save money in the long term.

“This new programme of investment in LED lights will help the council save money and reduce its carbon emissions and as such will make it cheaper to maintain, more energy efficient and guaranteed for the next 20 years.

“Together with the programme to improve the borough’s roads, the Council is working smarter by investing upfront in order to save us money in the long term.”