Smartlight: Modernising Doncaster's Street Lighting Service
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Smartlight: modernising Doncaster’s street lighting service What are we doing? We are modernising Doncaster’s street lights by replacing 33,000 residential area street lights with new LED lanterns. Why are we doing it? The new lights will be more energy efficient and cheaper to run. They are designed to last for 100,000 hours, which is the equivalent to 25 years. In comparison, our existing lights last around six years before they need to be replaced. The service will improve, including the use of a central computer system which will identify faults automatically, sometimes before the light actually fails, so people will no longer need to report faulty streetlights to the council. How much will it cost? We are investing £8.2m in the new technology, which is funded by an interest-free environmental loan from a company called SALIX. Our investment will pay for itself in 6 years, after which we will benefit from a saving of £1.3m per year compared to the costs of running our current streetlights. This means our street lighting energy bill will be reduced by 70%. How much money and energy will this save? As well as making savings of £1.3m per year, we will reduce our carbon footprint by 80% or 4,700 tonnes. What are the benefits? As well as saving money, Doncaster’s new street lights will reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions and light pollution and provide a high level of protection against future energy price increases. There will also be reductions in staffing and equipment maintenance costs as they will require much less maintenance than the old lights. What is the new LED technology? LED lighting is an instant light and can be switched on / off without the need for a warm-up period. The light given out by the lamps is much whiter and clearer than existing lamps, which emit a yellow light. The type of light emitted by the new lamps is a better quality light that enhances colour rendition which is particularly positive for CCTV cameras. With the centralised controls in place lighting levels can be altered to meet local needs at varying times of the night and year. We will have the ability to dim individual lighting columns if they are too bright or to make them brighter when needed in certain areas. We can also brighten or dim whole streets or areas for a particular reason where appropriate. Will Doncaster Council be switching off street lighting? No. Doncaster Council will not be switching off lights. There will be a lighting level which meets the needs of residential streets and areas, with an enhanced level where higher levels of lighting is needed; for example outside shopping areas, or pubs until closing times. Are other councils in the South Yorkshire area doing this? Yes. Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham are all investing in the new technology. When are we doing it? The programme starts in October 2015 and the work will take around 14 months to complete. Where will the project start first and how is this decided? The phased route has been determined to ensure the areas with the highest number of oldest lanterns are replaced first. The programme of works will be planned three months in advance, which will allow for traffic management to be put in place to minimise any local disruption. The replacement areas are shown below in order of work to be done: Autumn / Winter 2015 Thorne, Hatfield Woodhouse, Moorends, Stainforth, Dunscroft, Hatfield, Kirk Sandall, Barnby Dun, Dunsville, Edenthorpe, Kirk Bramwith, South Bramwith, Armthorpe, Bessacarr, Cantley, Old Cantley, Rossington. Spring 2016 Finningley, Branton, Blaxton, Bawtry, Auckley, Austerfield, Edlington, Braithwell, Clifton, Loversall, Micklebring, Old Edlington, Tickhill, Warmsworth, Mexborough, Adwick- Upon-Dearne, Conisbrough, Denaby, Old Denaby. Summer 2016 Askern, Campsall, Fenwick, Fishlake, Instoneville, Moss, Norton, Owston, Sutton, Sykehouse, Skellow, Carcroft, Woodlands, Adwick-Le-Street, Bilham, Brodsworth, Clayton, Hampole, Hickleton, Highfields, Hooton Pagnell, Marr, Moorehouse, Pickburn, Skelbrooke, Cusworth, York Road, Scawsby, Scawthorpe, Sunnyfields, Bentley, Arksey, Tollbar. Autumn 2016 Sprotbrough, Barnburgh, Cadeby, Harlington, High Melton, Balby, Balby Bridge, Balby Carr, Hexthorpe, Doncaster Central, Belle Vue, Bennetthorpe, Hyde Park, Lakeside, Town Fields, Wheatley, Clay Lane, Intake, Wheatley Hills. How will this work affect me/ what disruption can I expect? When carrying out the straight forward replacement of the lanterns in your street, the works should take approximately 20 minutes per street light to complete. There will be some instances where additional work is necessary, which may take longer to complete. Please be assured that the old street lights will remain in place, wherever possible until the new LED lights are operating. My street seems darker since the fitting of the LED lights. Why is this? When lighting areas with white lights, the standards require the lighting levels to be slightly reduced to prevent glare or dazzle. The LED lights are designed and fitted to help reduce light pollution, ensuring the footpaths and roads are well lit but avoiding an intrusion of light into people’s homes and gardens. The function of the street lighting is to light roads and footpaths. The new lanterns do this better but, because the light is directed towards the road, it does not spill over into people’s homes or gardens in the way that the old lanterns did. The quality of light on the pavements and the roads is improved with LED lanterns and is no darker. When initially installed it can take a few days for the optimal level of light to be set on the computer management system, and checks will take place after installation to adjust the lighting if it is required. Please give a few days before contacting the council if you feel that there is an issue with the new lights. How will the new lights affect safety? The whiter light, as opposed to the traditional orange light, allows for better recognition of colours. This enables road markings, signs and people to be identified more easily. Should incidents arise, such as anti-social behaviour, or at the request of emergency services, CCTV recognition will be greatly improved by the new white light. There will be the ability to ‘adjust’ lighting at an individual column level, to meet localised needs or to brighten areas as necessary, for example if there is a police incident or to improve safety for people leaving an evening community event. Further information You can follow the council on social media for regular updates: Twitter: @MyDoncaster Facebook: Follow ‘MyDoncaster’ Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk/smartlight Tel. Customer Services on 01302 736000 .