20,000 Telford street lights set for £5.2 million LED upgrade

The programme will update light across Telford & Wrekin with LED technology.

The new lights will use around 50 per cent less energy than traditional street lamps, saving the council £420,000 a year.

Telford & Wrekin Council says the change to a brighter, white light will protect residents by making it easier to see in the dark.

It says it will also save £420,000 a year through reduced maintenance and lower energy costs.

Angie Astley, assistant director neighbourhood & customer services, said: "This project will considerably improve street lights across the borough.

“We want to make our streets better lit, safer and, at the same time, make our street lights more cost effective.

“The new LED lights give a whiter light compared with existing ones. We expect that every Telford & Wrekin Council owned street light will be upgraded by the end of 2018.”

The work will be carried out by the council’s street lighting contractor Prysmian Cables and Systems. The lights will be upgraded to LED lighting and concrete columns will be replaced with new steel columns.

Upgrades will be done to the most inefficient areas first, with an aim to cut the biggest costs as soon as possible.

Work is set to start in Madeley, Wrockwardine Wood and Priorslee, with other towns in Telford & Wrekin expected to see the work over the next 19 months.

When new lights are being installed, homes will receive a letter explaining the changes.

The council claims a pilot lighting scheme in the borough last year saw many residents say the new LED lights improved their area and made them feel safer.

This year, more than £20 million is being invested in improving, repairing and making safer roads and streets across Telford and Wrekin.

This also includes installing energy efficient road signs, a programme of road lining improvement, additional investment into repairing local roads and footpaths and lots of environmental maintenance improvements.