4. General Requirements
4.1. Design and Adoption Criteria
4.7. Energy Conservation/Remote Monitoring
4.8. Environment and Agenda 21
4.1. Design and Adoption Criteria
4.1.1. In general all new street lighting provided on the highway should be designed and installed to the current British Standard European Norm (BSEN) appropriate for the road in question.
4.1.2. New lighting installed on the highway, which is below this standard, may be adopted by the Local Lighting Authority at its own expense (Local Lighting Authorities can be Borough, District, Town, Parish Councils or Social Housing Groups all of whom have powers to provide lighting on the highway, but only with the consent of the Highway Authority). Local Lighting Authorities must be consulted on individual draft lighting designs and any comments should reflect local residents' views. However, the final design must be seen to be to the benefit of the community at large, whilst attempting to take into account any individual concerns.
4.1.3. As a general objective the County Council will seek to minimise light pollution of the night sky, light trespass, and reduce to a minimum the production of greenhouse gases by the use of up-to-date and technologically advanced lighting/electrical equipment.
4.1.4. All electrical systems must comply with current regulations (see Appendix 1).
4.1.5. District Lighting Plans
The County Council in conjunction with the local District/Borough Councils will formulate district lighting plans for the existing highway network within their boundaries.
4.1.6. New Estate Lighting Plans
Local District/Borough Councils will, in conjunction with the County Council, formulate estate lighting plans for new developments, within their respective agency areas where the number of proposed dwellings is greater than 50 houses in total.
4.1.7. Development Plans
District Councils will be encouraged to include specific references to the reduction of light pollution and light trespass within their Development Plans.
4.2 Lighting Standards
4.2.1. Light Sources
Light sources will vary, but for the purposes of street lighting the discharge lamp type, eg high pressure sodium (SON), ceramic discharge metal halide (CDM), etc, will be of a type considered to be the most efficient for a specific scheme. In all cases, where electronic control gear is available then it must be used in preference to the standard or low loss type to ensure the most efficient use of power.
4.3 Lanterns
4.3.1. All lanterns used for the purposes of street lighting shall contain an acceptable optical system to direct the light onto the highway within the limits set by BSEN 60598. To ensure the minimum environmental pollution to the night sky, the amount of upward light from the lantern shall be kept to a minimum and, where possible, new lantern designs shall be incorporated in the standard design specifications to maximise this approach but still retaining electrical and illumination efficiency.
4.3.2. All lanterns should be manufactured to a minimum of I.P 54 to BSEN 60590 for the lamp containment area and should be manufactured from vandal-resistant material. Lanterns must be designed and tested to provide a minimum normal operating life of 25 years.
4.4 Columns
4.4.1. All street lighting columns installed on the highway shall comply with the requirements laid down in the current edition of the County Council's Street Lighting Material Specifications. The only exception to the requirement above will apply to cast iron, cast aluminium or some decorative steel columns, which may be used in environmentally sensitive areas. These columns will be subject to a separate specification, when required, but generally they will be factory painted with a final decorative top coat of paint being applied on site following erection.
4.4.2. Particular note should be made of the requirements of Appendix 3 where columns are used for the support of street decorations, festive lighting, etc and the imposed limitations.
4.4.3. Signs should be mounted on columns wherever possible but within the limitations imposed by the current DTLR BD 26/-- (Memorandum).
4.5. Location of Equipment
4.5.1. As a general rule obstruction of the footway by columns and illuminated sign posts should be avoided by positioning columns and posts at the rear of the footway or by the use of wall mounted lighting units. This will contribute to compliance with current legislation relating to the people with disabilities and a reduction in street clutter. Where columns and sign posts are mounted in the highway verge they must be set back the minimum distance recommended in the current British Standard for Road Lighting. Positioning must also take into account the location of trees, vehicular accesses, overhead lines, etc as well as the edge of sign faces.
4.5.2. The final positioning of equipment shall be determined on site by the engineer where such drawings provided do not enable the construction team to complete the erection in accordance with 4.5.1.
4.6 Procurement of Equipment
4.6.1. Subject to the County Council's Standing Orders on contracts, manufacturers/suppliers from within the county will be used to help promote local economic development, in accordance with the key Aim of the County Council in respect of promoting improvements in economic growth.
4.7 Energy Conservation/Remote Monitoring
4.7.1. Lighting practice and the purchase of equipment shall promote energy conservation by use of new technology. Road signs (in particular regulatory/warning signs) should only be illuminated when required under The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994.
4.7.2. Remote monitoring technology will be introduced into new and existing lighting systems. The types of system used may vary from time to time as technology improves.
4.8. Environment and Agenda 21
The County Council is committed to providing a sustainable environment for the residents of Hampshire. From a street lighting point of view this means:
i. Reducing to a minimum the need for illumination wherever possible to minimise energy generation and the production of greenhouse gases by direct and indirect action.
ii. Ensuring that all new and replacement lighting is sustainable development.
iii. Specifying materials which are designed and manufactured to high quality standards.
iv. Utilising the most energy efficient equipment by taking advantage of all technological advances in the fields of electronics and communications.
v. Ensuring that all contractors involved in street lighting shall send all waste for recycling through established or experimental means to ensure the reuse of all materials in any format possible.
vi. Using recycled materials wherever possible, eg traffic sign faces, as well as ensuring that all materials purchased are recyclable.
vii. Taking care to provide unobtrusive lights wherever possible. However, residential properties in an urban area may experience some light trespass. The general principle would be to minimise the intrusion where possible but at the same time to recognise the technical limitations that may make such shielding impracticable.
viii. Progressing energy purchase from renewable sources wherever possible accepting that in doing so the premium payment will support this fledgling industry.
4.9 Crime and Disorder
i. The County Council is committed to assisting and advising District Councils in the production of Crime and Disorder strategies and action plans and, where possible, providing a proportion of the funding where new or improved street lighting is generally accepted as being the best way forward.
ii. The County Council, whilst wishing to assist District Councils with respect to Crime and Disorder and street lighting issues, would normally do so by District Councils making the initial approach to the County Council for information.
iii. Limited funding may be made available from the County Council's Community Safety Initiative budget for addressing the improvement of street lighting in specific areas where night crime is a problem. District Councils will be encouraged to provide a greater proportion of the initial capital funding as the long term maintenance burden will be a County Council responsibility.
iv. In addition, where street lighting columns are due for replacement, then the crime and disorder needs for an area will be taken into account when designing the replacement scheme.
4.10 Consulatation
i. The County Council will formally consult other local lighting authorities within Hampshire on all new, replacement or improvement lighting schemes which directly affect those lighting authorities.
ii. All District Councils holding a devolved Section 38 Agency arrangement with the County Council will also formally consult with any local lighting authority who may be directly affected by any proposals.
iii. Consultations directly with local residents, local historical societies or any other interested body affected by any schemes will be deemed to have been completed by the Local Lighting Authority prior to it making any comments. However, the County Council may consult directly with local residents in certain cases.
iv. The County Council, or any other body responsible for installing a lighting scheme intended for formal adoption within a conservation area, must consult with the Local Conservation Officer and, where necessary, English Heritage particularly when historic buildings or areas are concerned.