New street lights coming to Fleet

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be coming to Fleet in August, improving the town's streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and in need of replacement. To this end, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded. With the use of the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls, Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

Over 4,000 new lanterns to be replace in Fleet

The new lighting in Fleet will see the replacement of approximately 1,866 lanterns and a further 2154 lanterns and posts. The introduction of flexible lighting levels and a white 'natural' lighting source, will result in:

• better lighting clarity;
• less light pollution due to the new lights pointing downwards;
• improved road safety;
• improved personal security;
• and a reduction in carbon.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council said: "A great deal of preparation and planning has gone into the Fleet Street Lighting programme and we will endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum, coordinating works with other schemes and ensuring works on key roads are planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

"This is a long term investment that will help improve the county's energy efficiency as well as cutting energy costs and carbon emissions.

"As well as replacing older lighting columns coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help to make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets. This project is an excellent example of using some of the most modern equipment in the country to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions."

The Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and will see the replacement or updating of 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards in Hampshire with the latest energy efficient equipment during the course of the five year core investment period. The scheme will bring many benefits for residents including reduced carbon emissions, reduced light pollution and the capacity to target lighting in areas of high crime.

Implementation of the initiative began in April 2010, starting in Basingstoke and moving to Gosport, Eastleigh, Hedge End, Winchester, Fareham and Andover. So far 26,000 units (columns and lanterns) have been replaced or changed, using the latest in energy saving lamps and dimming control.

The South Coast Street Lighting PFI won the Best Local Government Project Team 2010 in the Public Private Finance Awards.

• Street lighting services in Hampshire

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