9. Additional Requirement for Decorative Lighting, Flower Baskets and Other Attachments to Street Lighting Columns
9.1 Fixtures Attached to Street Lighting Columns
9.1.1. In addition to the requirement to erect decorative fixtures over a road the following requirements shall be met to permit the erection of any temporary decorative/festive lighting and flower baskets to street lighting columns:
i In the case of new or replacement lighting systems, in locations where it is known that decorative lighting will be required, the lighting columns shall have been fabricated to support such temporary lighting structures or flower baskets and a certificate of compliance lodged with the Highway Authority.
ii In the case of existing lighting systems being used to support decorative lighting or flower baskets: The system of street lighting to be used to support the decorative lighting shall be inspected annually. A competent structural engineer shall be commissioned to provide a report to the Highway Authority or its Agent prior to the erection of the decorative lighting, confirming that the columns can structurally support the proposed decorative festive lighting or flower baskets. That engineer will have professional indemnity to support his report.
Decorative festive lights or flower baskets must not hinder the normal maintenance of the highway structure concerned. No banner or catenary wire shall be permitted to be erected between two street lighting columns unless the structure has been designed and fabricated specifically for that purpose.
Power supplies to decorative festive lights should not be derived from adjacent buildings, but from within the street lighting column acting as the support. (This is to avoid instances of connection to private supplies, over which the Highway Authority or its Agent has no control). The body responsible for the installation/connection of the decorative lighting shall, separately, contract with an electricity supply company for the supply of energy.
Where switch wires are used to control the power supply on adjacent columns, they shall be labelled with the location of the isolation point at appropriate positions along the length of the wire.
All temporary fixings used to attach the decorative festive lights or flower baskets to street lighting columns must be free from corrosion at all times and must be removed at the end of the licence period. Any damage to the protective surface must be made good at the licensee's expense and immediately after the removal of the apparatus. The Highway Authority has the right to request removal of such equipment at any time, which the responsible body must comply with within 28 days of the request.
9.2 Other Fixtures To Street Lighting Columns (Permanent Or Temporary)
In general, street lighting columns, whether used for permanent or temporary fixtures, should comply with the guidelines indicated in DTLR Memorandum BD 26/--. This means that the erection of sign plates of greater than 0.3 square metres in area is not permitted. Columns must not be used as the second leg of a sign requiring a second post, as experience has shown that this has caused significant problems with existing columns. Street lighting columns shall not be used as supports for advertising signs of any kind, except where recognised organisations (ie Automobile Association or Royal Automobile Club) have been granted permission by the Highway Authority, and when fixed such signs should not obscure the unit maintenance number.