Bridgend reduces carbon footprint with energy efficient lighting
September 18, 2009 No Comments
New energy-efficient street lighting pilots have been approved by Bridgend County Borough Council Cabinet members. Local authorities across Wales are reviewing or have changed their street lighting because of concerns about energy consumption and light pollution. In Bridgend County Borough, the cost of street lighting has doubled since 2004.
But Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed to first test two pilot projects to reduce street lighting costs and help reduce the authority’s carbon footprint before any wider scheme is brought into this area. They are:
A ‘dimmer control’ pilot for the greater Cefn Glas area including the ward of Llangewydd and Brynhyfryd, parts of the Newcastle ward and the Bryntirion area. In this area 820 of the 911 street lights will be dimmed to 60 per cent brightness between midnight and 5am, saving 40 per cent of energy. But areas of high night time activity will stay fully lit, as will known accident blackspots, pedestrian crossing, traffic calming areas and busy junctions. All road signs will remain fully illuminated.
A ‘part night’ control scheme in the Coychurch ward, incorporating the Waterton and Bridgend industrial estates. This means every other light will be switched off between midnight and 5am, with the same exceptions as the dimmer control pilot. Lights next to larger industrial units will be kept on all night, as will the first light when entering a lit area and the last light in a cul de sac. Of the 463 lights in this ward, 177 will be affected, saving 15.6 per cent of energy.
A full explanatory leaflet will be distributed to every household within the pilot areas before the pilots begin.
There will be full and ongoing public consultation with councillors, residents and businesses as the pilot progresses. Important partners like the police and the council’s own CCTV unit will have a significant input.
A full evaluation will be carried out following the first 12 months of the trial and a full report will be presented to the Cabinet before further measures are proposed.
Councillor John Spanswick (pictured), Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Consultation is essential as it is very important that everyone understands the reasons for these measures and how they will work.
“This is a critical issue for Bridgend as well as other authorities and standing still is not an option. It is vital we look at how we can reduce our carbon footprint and save money in order to better serve our tax payers.
“We accept, however, there will be public concerns and fears about changing our street lighting which is why we are introducing these carefully controlled pilots. Community safety is paramount and the pilots will take account of those areas that need to remain fully lit.
“The Cabinet will be monitoring these pilots very carefully in order to find a positive way forward for the whole county borough on this important issue.”
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