Friday, 17 May 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Bishops Waltham in June 2013, improving local streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction. The new lighting in Bishops Waltham will see the replacement of approximately 283 lanterns and a further 303 lanterns and posts.

This long term investment will help improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

The preparation and planning for the Street Lighting programme aims to keep disruption to a minimum by coordinating work with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

• Street Lighting and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Four Marks in June 2013, improving local streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

The new lighting in Four Marks will see the replacement of approximately 29 lanterns and a further 105 lanterns and posts. The majority of the work will focus on improving lighting along the A31.

This long term investment will help improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

The preparation and planning for the Street Lighting programme aims to keep disruption to a minimum by coordinating work with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

• Street Lighting and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract

Thursday, 18 April 2013

Work will start on 22 April, on a £1.5 million scheme to make the Alençon Link in Basingstoke easier and safer for everyone to use, as well as making the entrance to the town centre more attractive.

The main focus of the improvement plans is to create an open, more attractive environment with an avenue of new trees planted and an overgrown bank on the north side removed, providing more natural light for a new, shared use pedestrian and cycle path.

The new path will make for easier access to the town centre, with better footways on the south side and the replacement of the existing subway with a signal controlled, pedestrian crossing at road level. This will be between the Chapel Hill roundabout and the exit ramp from The Malls car park, making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road. These are further to the improvements already undertaken on the Alençon Link, following those at The Malls, the rail station and bus stops.

The developer funded scheme is expected to be completed by the end of November. During the construction period, the Alençon Link will operate as a one-way street between Chapel Hill Roundabout and Victory Roundabout, and there will be signed diversion routes in operation.

The County Council took into account people's concerns about the Alençon Link during consultation for the Town Access Plan. A number of people commented that they did not feel that it was a safe route into the town. These views and others were important in shaping the final design for the Alençon Link improvements scheme.

Owing to the scale of work involved, the County Council has warned that there will be some inevitable disruption during the construction period but it has ensured that the traffic management arrangements keep the impact of this to a minimum. The County Council's advice is to allow extra time for journeys, particularly at peak hours of travel.

• Alencon Link Accessibility Improvements

Thursday, 11 April 2013

A £155,000 redevelopment scheme has been agreed by Hampshire County Council to improve its household waste recycling centre (HWRC) located on Grange Road in Netley.

A new customer exit will be built so that customers can access the recycling area in their cars without needing to travel through the servicing area. Visitors to the site currently have to drive through the container servicing area to get to the upper recycling area and dispose of their waste. Providing a separate exit will significantly reduce the risk of a customer colliding with a service vehicle and other machinery as well as reducing congestion and enabling the site to operate more efficiently.

In addition, a new pedestrian crossing zone will be created and on-site parking will be increased by six car parking spaces to provide a total of 20 spaces. Space will also be made for another three waste recycling containers and additional upper level storage areas for increased recycling capacity.

Subject to planning consent, construction is anticipated to start in early 2014, for 10 weeks and will be programmed to take place during the time of year when use of the facility is at its quietest. In order to complete the work as quickly as possible, and to avoid compromising the safety of staff and customers, the site will be closed while the redevelopment is taking place.

Nearby HWRCs are located in Hedge End, Segensworth and Southampton.

• Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

More Hampshire schools will be able to harness the power of the sun to help reduce their energy bills in future, as solar panels plan to be fitted on up to 20 school extension projects by Hampshire County Council over the next four years.

All new primary schools built by the County Council already feature solar PV technology, and in future, technical appraisals for possible solar panel installations will now be carried out on all schools identified for extension across Hampshire.

County Council Leader, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "Solar PV panels on new primary schools and now school extension projects, can not only help schools to deliver savings in their energy consumption equivalent to lighting a classroom for four months, but they are also another way to help achieve energy reduction targets, particularly as schools make up around 60% of the County Council's total carbon emissions.

"We currently have around 30 solar PV installations on Hampshire schools and this programme is likely to double this over the next few years. Each new school extension scheme, regardless of the governance of that school, will be assessed to explore whether solar panels are suitable, and installed where appropriate.

"As is the case with the 1,800 smart meters we have already installed in Hampshire schools to help them measure their electricity and gas usage, these new solar PV panels will also benefit pupils in the classroom who will be able to tie in with the curriculum, the learning opportunities that come along with this technology. Armed with this knowledge, and the advice and tips we also provide on how they can save energy, they will be able to actively identify patterns, times of high consumption and unusual energy use levels, and take positive steps to tackle any issues."

The County Council has a strong track record when it comes to carbon reduction and energy cost savings, having recently exceeded its targets for a second year running, for cutting emissions from its buildings, schools, street lights and other operations.

Much work already takes place in schools to drive down carbon emissions in addition to positive behavioural change and focus on good energy management. This has been at the heart of the County Council's Carbon Management plan and work with its 498 schools. In addition to the smart meters in schools, there have also been a raft of measures to improve lighting, glazing and improved heating systems.

In addition, the County Council is fitting 1,500 boiler control devices in Hampshire's schools to save an estimated 10% from their heating fuel bills.

• County Council beats carbon emissions target for a second year

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Bramshott and Liphook in autumn 2013, improving the town's streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

The new lighting in Bramshott and Liphook will see the replacement of approximately 244 lanterns and a further 432 lanterns and posts.

The introduction of flexible lighting levels and white 'natural' lighting will result in:

• Better lighting clarity
• Less light pollution due to the new lights pointing downwards
• Improved road safety
• Improved personal security
• A reduction in carbon

Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transport and Environment said:

"A lot of preparation and planning has gone into the Bramshott and Liphook Street Lighting programme and we will try to keep disruption to a minimum. This means coordinating works with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

"This long term investment will help to improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

"The project is an excellent example of using some of the latest technology to save energy costs and carbon emissions well into the future."

Further information about the Street Lighting PFI

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, Gosport, Eastleigh, Hedge End, and Winchester. So far more than 60,000 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 and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract

Monday, 18 March 2013

The start of the boating season will see all owners who pay harbour dues on the River Hamble, issued with a SmartWater forensic marking system.

This is the first time an entire harbour has embarked on a crime prevention scheme such as this. Around 4,000 boats will be given SmartWater systems from the Easter weekend onwards when people start returning to their vessels.

Councillor Keith Evans, Chairman of Hampshire County Council's River Hamble Harbour Board, said: "We have been working closely with the police, including their marine unit, and of course with SmartWater. The River Hamble is not a crime hot spot and we want to keep it that way by providing a major deterrent to potential theft and crime on the River. This tool is a way to ensure property is protected and we urge all owners to act positively and responsibly to maximise that deterrent."

SmartWater is a forensic liquid that can be painted on to almost any item of value, providing traceable back to its owner. The robust liquid is almost impossible to remove and contains thousands of uniquely numbered microdots. These microdots feature a unique reference number, so police can identify the owner of any recovered stolen property and prosecute the thieves responsible.

SmartWater can be applied to anything from personal belongings to outboard motors, radar equipment, chart plotters and radios. Each system also comes with stickers to put in the windows of vessels to warn would-be-thieves that the valuables on board are protected.

Once boat owners have their SmartWater system and have painted the liquid on their belongings, they need to register it with the company, either online or by post. Registration details will be supplied with the systems.

David Evans, Harbour Master for the River Hamble, said: "The forensic marking scheme project is designed to make it clear to potential thieves that the River Hamble is not a place they will want to target. We already work very closely with the police and this is an extra step to help prevent crime and act as a deterrent to thieves. It is also a scheme that is of benefit to everyone who uses the river."

Sergeant Tony Birr, of the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit, said: "The Hampshire Police Marine Unit and local beat officers continue to work closely with the Hamble Harbour Master and his team in developing ways to prevent and detect crime along the River Hamble. Their consistent commitment to proactively deter criminals typifies the spirit of Project Kraken and, by working together, this initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when agencies take a joint approach in reducing the opportunity for crime to occur."

Phil Cleary, Chief Executive of SmartWater Technology Ltd, said: "SmartWater works as an effective deterrent because it makes thieves accountable for their crimes, which is why they will avoid it at all costs. This project is a co-ordinated crime prevention strategy between Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Police and SmartWater, which we believe will bring real benefit to boat owners by reducing the threat of theft."

• Contact the River Hamble Harbour Authority

Monday, 18 March 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Hartley Wintney in autumn 2013, improving the town's streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

The new lighting in Hartley Wintney will see the replacement of approximately 72 lanterns and a further 223 lanterns and posts.

The introduction of flexible lighting levels and white 'natural' lighting will result in:

• Better lighting clarity
• Less light pollution due to the new lights pointing downwards
• Improved road safety
• Improved personal security
• A reduction in carbon

Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transport and Environment said:

"A lot of preparation and planning has gone into the Hartley Wintney Street Lighting programme and we will try to keep disruption to a minimum. This means coordinating works with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

"This long term investment will help to improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

"The project is an excellent example of using some of the latest technology to save energy costs and carbon emissions well into the future."

Further information about the Street Lighting PFI

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, Gosport, Eastleigh, Hedge End, and Winchester. So far more than 60,000 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 and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract

Monday, 18 March 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Hurstbourne Priors in autumn 2013, improving the town's streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

The new lighting in Hurstbourne Priors will see the replacement of approximately 17 lanterns.

The introduction of flexible lighting levels and white 'natural' lighting will result in:

• Better lighting clarity
• Less light pollution due to the new lights pointing downwards
• Improved road safety
• Improved personal security
• A reduction in carbon

Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transport and Environment said:

"A lot of preparation and planning has gone into the Hurstbourne Priors Street Lighting programme and we will try to keep disruption to a minimum. This means coordinating works with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

"This long term investment will help to improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

"The project is an excellent example of using some of the latest technology to save energy costs and carbon emissions well into the future."

Further information about the Street Lighting PFI

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, Gosport, Eastleigh, Hedge End, and Winchester. So far more than 60,000 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 and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract

Friday, 15 March 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Alresford in autumn 2013, improving the town's streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

The new lighting in Alresford will see the replacement of approximately 263 lanterns and a further 414 lanterns and posts.

The introduction of flexible lighting levels and white 'natural' lighting will result in:

• Better lighting clarity
• Less light pollution due to the new lights pointing downwards
• Improved road safety
• Improved personal security
• A reduction in carbon

Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transport and Environment said:

"A lot of preparation and planning has gone into the Alresford Street Lighting programme and we will try to keep disruption to a minimum. This means coordinating works with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

"This long term investment will help to improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

"The project is an excellent example of using some of the latest technology to save energy costs and carbon emissions well into the future."

Further information about the Street Lighting PFI

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, Gosport, Eastleigh, Hedge End, and Winchester. So far more than 60,000 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 and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract

Monday, 11 March 2013

Hampshire County Council is bringing together international energy experts at Ashburton Hall, Winchester on 15 April to explore the benefits of 21st century approaches that combine energy production with energy distribution. These modern technologies have the potential to assure Hampshire's future energy needs, reduce its carbon footprint and cut energy costs for residents.

The all-day symposium - part of the European Ecotec21 project for which Hampshire County Council has received funds from 'INTERREG IV A' under the European Cross-Border Cooperation Programme - will examine how the use of Combined Heat and Power within a District Energy System can improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The delegates, from the UK and France, will include scientists, designers, architects, local and government authorities and energy facility managers. There will also be an opportunity to visit the University of Southampton in the afternoon to see how such an energy system has already helped to make huge energy and cost savings across their campus.

Combined Heat and Power is a modern energy production technology that captures what would otherwise be wasted heat from a power plant generating electricity. District Energy Systems are efficient and reliable ways to provide heating, hot water and electricity to local businesses, householders and local authorities, and distribute heat in the form of hot water via insulated, underground pipes to local buildings.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council said:

"The government has recently recognised that District Energy Systems are a viable low carbon heat and electricity source for urban areas. Coupled with Combined Heat and Power generation they provide Hampshire's residents and businesses with a good opportunity to reduce their buildings' heating costs in the future.

"By hosting this symposium we will be able to bring many people together from very different sectors to exchange ideas and discover the best ways to develop and implement this technology. We will be able to develop in-house 'know-how' to investigate other energy-efficient processes which will put us in a strong position to start to tackle the future challenges posed by rising energy costs, so helping to ensure we can continue to deliver services to the residents and community of Hampshire."

Interested parties can find out more information on attending by emailing Alan Whitney or visiting ecotec21de.eventbrite.com/#

• Ecotec 21