Hundreds of Market Drayton street lights set for upgrade in £60,000 plans

The works should see 260 street lights on the town's estates switched over at a cost of about £60,000 throughout 2019, and councillors said the new lights will need to be replaced less frequently.

It was agreed at a meeting of Market Drayton Town Council's services and facilities committee, at which the committee's budget for the upcoming year was considered.

Councillor Roy Aldcroft, also of Shropshire Council, said: "We've committed in principle to do the 260 lights in the town this year.

"We're looking at changing all the town council's street lights to long-life LEDs which generally won't go out as often as the ones we have at the moment.

Dependable

"Particularly in areas like Grosvenor Road we won't be seeing the trucks going out changing bulbs as often because they are so dependable now.

"We will be saving a lot of money in the long run."

The town council has responsibility for 260 street lights on a number of residential areas throughout Market Drayton, while Shropshire Council maintains lights on the main road network in the town.

In September, Shropshire Council said it will take until 2054 for its own stock of lights throughout the county to be fully upgraded to LED bulbs.

Reduce

Steve Davenport, the council's cabinet member for transport and highways, said the council was exploring funding options to reduce the time it would take to switch the lights.

He said: “Shropshire Council owns and maintains 19,601 street lights, 3,325 (20 per cent) of these being LED lanterns.

“With current funding levels it would take 36 years, until 2054, for Shropshire Council to switch all of its street lighting to LED; however, that programme could be accelerated if any future bids for funding are successful.

“We are exploring funding options to reduce the time it would take to switch all street lighting to LED.”

Meanwhile nearby Telford & Wrekin Council was due to complete its own LED upgrade by the end of 2018.