Major restrictions around street lighting on new developments, which will effectively remove highway lighting, are to be brought in by Lincolnshire County Council.
The authority’s Highways and Transport Committee on Monday examined changes to its street lighting policy which will say that new development roads “will not be lit for highway purposes”.
However, developers will be given an option to pay the council a commuted sum to adopt “non-highway lighting” for footway or placemaking initiatives such as aesthetic or safety purposes.
The report said there was an “increasing momentum amongst developers for new developments to be lit not for highway purposes… but for place-making or foot-way-only purposes, where the lighting does not have to meet highway standards”.
Council officer John Monk told councillors developers were moving away from traditional lighting to be more about “creating the right atmosphere” and “more of a feeling of place”.
Since 2016, LCC has been making attempts to reduce the number of street-lights that are switched on overnight, with many going to part-night systems or being replaced by LED lighting, in a bid to save money.
Council bosses estimate they have so far made a saving of £2.58million a year with energy consumption reducing from 22.9million KwH in 2015/16 to 8.6million KwH in 2021/22.
LCC is facing an increase in energy costs of 67% in October this year.
Officers said the latest change maintained the council’s priorities to minimise its contribution to carbon emissions as well as placing the responsibility for non-highway public lighting on other authorities.
“Although it would continue to be a step change from the current expectation that all new developments are lit to highway standards, by the offer to adopt non-highway lighting for a commuted sum, it is likely that some lighting will be provided on most developments, and in a manner which fits with the current place-making agenda,” said their report.
Public speaker David Matthews, a design engineer and consultant of nearly 40 years, told councillors however, it was “the worst design I’ve ever seen”.
“The first requirement of any design is that it’s safe, in the case of this one the safest design is the one it replaces – it’s obviously not,” he told members.
He warned of previous Health and Safety Executive Investigations leading to fines and even prison sentences as a result of someone getting hurt or “even worse, killed.”
He urged the council instead to switch lights back on, but replaced with LEDs which he said would save the council money on electricity and maintenance itself.
Mr Monk, however, said the council had addressed Mr Matthews’ concerns during previous reviews both locally and across the country.
“If HSE had their concerns they would be writing to us,” he said.
He added that the council would “love” to switch all lights to LED, but that there was “simply a case of affordability”.
Councillors had some concerns over the changes, particularly over the safety of residents and employees who walked to work during the night.
Labour Councillor Kevin Clarke said street lighting was “always in the top three” of his residents’ concerns. He said they wanted them switched on and didn’t support the original policy or any amendments.
South Holland Independent Robert Gibson said a lot of residents in his area were “going to and from work at all hours of the days”.
He added: “A lot of people are walking down the streets at night clutching alarms and keys and I’m not comfortable with this policy that we’re going to have no lights.”
The council continues to argue that the switching off of lights has not led to an increase in crime or anti-social behaviour.
Mr Monk told councillors Lincolnshire was “one of the safest areas in the country” adding that previus data had shown “no demonstrable link” to show an impact on crime.
Conservative Councillor Mike Brookes told councillors he felt the authority had done everything by the book.
“We’ve been through all the right processes and everything and considered things really thoroughly,” he said.
“I know it’d be very nice to have the lights on all night, but is is it absolutely necessary when most people are in bed asleep?”
The policy will now go before the executive committee for a final decision.
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An emergency road closure will be put in place for two hours in Stamford’s Red Lion Square on Wednesday as expert crews carry out road materials testing.
The critical work will take place on Wednesday, May 25 and the road closure in and around the square will be in effect from 10am until 12pm. A full route diversion will be signposted.
The roads will have to be closed because some of the materials testing will be carried out on the live northbound traffic lane in the area.
The route map for traffic whilst testing is underway. | Photo: LCC
Just last week a forty-year-old gas main was discovered during works to replace the old cobbles in Red Lion Square, which the county council said was likely to delay the completion of the £1.4 million project. The site team began the works but later identified the shallow gas main on-site that may need to be diverted.
Lincolnshire County Council will keep, and update, the cobbled square despite the mayor of Stamford previously calling on the authority to instead use tarmac. Local residents had previously reacted in horror when the traditional paving setts were repacked with patches of tarmac in 2020.
Red Lion Square in Stamford. | Photo: LCC
Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience that these material tests will cause and for the late notice of the road closure in Red Lion Square.
“Our on-site team has uncovered questions about the road materials which need clear answers and these can only come about through these tests.
“Rather than postpone the works further we will close the road for two hours to carry out the tests and then resume to the original plan of works for the area. We are doing this to absolutely minimise the disruption to road users as much as possible.
“Whilst this situation is not ideal, we appreciate the efforts of all concerned. I want to thank everyone effected for their patience in this matter whilst we carry out these tests.”
Over 300 kilos of essential food was donated to Lincoln Foodbank at the opening night of the Hunchback of Notre Dame on Monday, and the show’s producers are offering a prize draw of free tickets to people who continue to help the cause.
The Starring Lincoln Theatre Company’s production of the classic Victor Hugo novel had its opening night at Lincoln Cathedral on Monday, May 23, and it will continue to bring shows to the legendary venue until Saturday, June 4.
The company called on ticket buyers to bring food donations with them to the cathedral for Lincoln Foodbank, and the results certainly did not disappoint.
Andrew Buhagiar, a 20-year-old student from Malta, stars in the production as Quasimodo. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Over 300kgs of goods such as UHT milk, sugar, tuna and tinned foods were collected at the cathedral, a brilliant start to Starring Lincoln’s target of four tonnes – which was achieved during performances of Oliver! in 2017.
The appeal has never been more necessary, with Lincoln Foodbank taking on more people’s needs than ever before, and it has even reached the stage where some of the Hunchback performers are relying on the use of the food bank.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Visitors are being invited to continue bringing food donations with them, with a collection point situated in the nave of the cathedral.
All donations are welcome, even from those without tickets to a Hunchback production, and anyone who brings something along will be entered into a prize draw to win a ticket to one of the shows.
A magical display inside Lincoln Cathedral. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tim Marks, who plays Clopin in the Hunchback of Notre Dame said: “It is heartbreaking frankly that people in one of the richest countries in the world simply cannot afford food.
“We know the people of Lincoln have gone above and beyond before with their kindness and crikey we thank them for it, but the Foodbank has never been more in need of donations.
“We have friends, some of whom in the cast who are in need of the Foodbank’s services, so please bring what you can and in return we promise we will entertain you with an absolute stonker of a show!”
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