The contract for the biggest streetlighting project in the country has been signed this week by Hampshire County Council, West Sussex County Council and Southampton City Council in a unique partnership.
Work to replace and maintain 250,000 streetlights across Hampshire, West Sussex and Southampton in a £225 million 25-year private finance initiative (PFI) will be carried out by Tay Valley Lighting Ltd, using its subsidiary contractor Southern Electric Contracting (SEC).
The preferred bidder was announced in August this year and the individual contracts for each authority were concluded in London this week.
Hampshire’s 50 per cent stake in the project will see the replacement or updating of 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards with the latest energy efficient equipment during the first five years of the project. The focus for the following 20 years will be on maintaining and operating the new lights to a high standard, with Hampshire County Council’s monitoring team keeping a check on project delivery and operations.
The benefits of the massive PFI project include:
• investment in the most up to date, energy efficient equipment
• more efficient use of energy – with a potential reduction in current levels
• improved visibility and reduced light pollution at night
• safer streets and reduced crime
• fewer burning hours and dimming lights by 25% to reduce carbon emissions, with the ability to dim further
All lighting stock over 15 years old will be replaced on a like for like basis with white fluorescent light in residential areas, giving greater clarity and representation of colour and features. Carbon emissions will be reduced through the introduction of remote lighting management, with a central control room having the ability to change lighting times and levels. And as faults can also be automatically registered, there should be no more need for staff driving around looking for problems.
The councils will each work with the contractor to organise the work programme, staff and equipment needed to deliver the project. A key part of the contract is communication and consultation with residents, to keep them informed about work in their area. The programme is due to start in the Spring of 2010 and the contractor has set aside funding to enable emerging technology to be used at a later stage.
Councillor Mel Kendal, Hampshire County Council’s Executive member for Environment, said: “We look forward to working with Southern Electric Contracting (SEC) as they deliver this huge programme of improvements. Our significant investment in the county’s existing street lighting will have a big impact on the quality of our environment, as well as helping to reduce the amount of energy used and carbon emissions generated. Above all, public safety is of the utmost importance and will not be compromised.
”Although the contracts are specific to each council, we will continue to liaise closely with our neighbouring authorities to ensure the standard of service across the whole area is consistently high.”
Research shows that better street lighting helps improve road safety, as well as reducing crime and the fear of crime. The terms of the contract address environmental issues and carbon reduction or energy savings, and although the lighting will be greatly improved there will be no increase in energy use.
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