Sponsored by
Whittlesey: Anger at removal of a street light
Whittlesey town councillor Ralph Butcher and the Mayor of Whittlesey Cllr Kay Mayor (front left) with residents at Braemar Gardens who are annoyed at the lack of consultation over the removal of a street light. Photo: David Lowndes/Peterborough ET
RESIDENTS feel they have been left in the dark over the removal of a street light on a residential road.
A number of people who live in Braemar Gardens have written to Whittlesey Town Council to express their concern about the loss of the light at a T-junction.
Gordon Garner has lived in the street for 10 years and is concerned about the lack of consultation over the removal of the light.
He said: “They just came in and took it away. It’s like entering a black hole now. At no time were we advised that the light would be completely removed and not replaced.
“Neither the town nor district council was informed. Most of the residents here are elderly and rely on good street lighting to make them feel safe when outside of their home.
“Some properties have been victims of burglary and vandalism in the past and we don’t want it to happen again.”
A number of Whittlesey town councillors, including the clerk Sue Evans, contacted Cambridgeshire County Council to find out why its contractor Balfour Beatty removed the light without consultation.
In response, Chris Sproston, the county council’s street lighting private-finance initiative manager, confirmed one light had been removed.
He added: “The county council is responsible for the provision of highway lighting for the road-user but, I regret, not for the provision of security lighting for properties, although crime and disorder and community safety is always given consideration wherever possible.”
He confirmed the county council was removing around 10 per cent of the county owned lighting stock from residential streets to make savings.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
whittlesey witler
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 01:00 PMThis does annoy me. The lighting private finance iniative manager or company IS NOT LISTENING. Several residents have written to the The lighting private finance company and the above is the answer they give every time. We know the lighting outside the property is NOT taken into consideration !! The argument is and is a JUST ONE is that the light that has been taken lit up all Three junctions in the cul-de-sac. Now the light has gone it is in pitch darkness. It is a ROAD HAZZARD .When the photographer from the ET came down to take a photo of the area in question he had to put his headlights on to get a photo of the residents at Braemar because it was so dark. This is a danger to all road users. It won,t be The lighting private finance company who pay for it if something goes wrong it will be the local council.
hissing cyd
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:01 AMThey will put the savings towards Cerests Boat Taxi service.
rogerandrew
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:35 AM'Chris Sproston, the county council’s street lighting private-finance initiative manager, confirmed one light had been removed.'..sounds like yet another 'non job'..maybe if he was sacked the light could be refitted..hope no incidents happen that could be the result of no lighting, as he states ''although crime and disorder and community safety is always given consideration wherever possible.”.not in this case though !!
Zanni
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:20 PMWell they've got to pay for the guided busway somehow!
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.