EASTBOURNE LED LIGHTING SCHEME Meads, Devonshire and Upperton Three month review Highway Lighting and Traffic Signals July 2014 1. Project Summary In April 2012 East Sussex County Council’s Cabinet agreed to implement a number of changes to the way street lighting is provided. This is in accordance with the Council’s policy to help reduce energy consumption and also light pollution. Street Lighting is one of the largest consumers of electricity within East Sussex County Council and we are continually looking at ways to become more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions. Our street lighting electricity budget was approximately £1.4 million and we have introduced many new technologies and controls to increase the efficiency of our equipment. These changes include changing the older yellow lights to white LED lights and dimming some lights along the main roads between midnight and 6.00 am. In a few streets part-night lighting controls (lights switch off between 12.30 and 5.30 am approximately) will be installed. 2. Public Engagement Engagement events were held as follows: Meads 28.09.13 St John’s Parish Hall, Meads Street, Eastbourne Devonshire 12.10.13 Leaf Hall, 51 Seaside, Eastbourne Upperton 26.10.13 Enterprise Shopping Centre, Station Parade, Eastbourne 3. Three Month Review The majority of work was completed by: Meads 26.01.14 (final completion 24.03.14) Devonshire 24.03.14 (final completion 30.03.14) Upperton 24.03.14 (final completion 30.03.14) 2 The three month review was held on Tuesday 22 nd July 2014 with: Name Title Organisation Contact Jeremy Lighting East Sussex County [email protected] Thorpe Engineer Council Marilyn Engagement East Sussex County [email protected] Chandler Coordinator Council Rachel Inspector Sussex Police [email protected] Barrow Bob Partnership Eastbourne [email protected] Gough Co-ordinator Community Safety Partnership John Chairman Neighbourhood Watch [email protected] Rollison 3.1 Comments from emergency services: East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service: ‘The changes do not appear to have had any impact on us and specifically we haven't identified any negative changes in the areas trialled.’ Dave Sheppard FICPEM DipMgmt(Open) Eastbourne Borough Commander (CFOA Fire & Rescue Marine Response) East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Whitley Road Eastbourne BN22 8LA Tel: 0845 130 8855 Mob: 07876 133682 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.esfrs.org South East Coast Ambulance Service: ‘Just to let you know that we have had no problems with the new lighting in the areas in your email (Meads, Devonshire, Upperton). As far as I am aware no staff have had any problems with any of the new lighting in the town.’ Martyn Hall Clinical Team Leader Eastbourne Ambulance Station South East Coast Ambulance Service 07786 086209 [email protected] 3 Sussex Police: • Fear of crime is the focus of most people’s objections. • Some residents do not like the darker patches between lampposts. • Alleyways should be prioritised. • ESCC to continue feeding into the IPL/LANTERNS project. 3.2 Comments from Members of the Public Since the introduction of the scheme the number of comments received were: Meads 10 comments received (10,725 population) Devonshire 3 comments received (13,167 population) Upperton 0 comments received (10,464 population) These were looked at in detail at the meeting, as well as previously being investigated on site during the hours of darkness by the highway lighting engineer. Most of the comments were concerns about fear of crime and dislike of the lighter then darker patches between lampposts, as the new lighting is more directional. Every customer who leaves contact details has been contacted about their concerns. Following the review meeting it was decided that the following changes to street lighting would be made: Street Initial Proposal Change To South Cliff Avenue Off between 00:30am and Lit all night 5:30am Elms Avenue Lit all night Brighter lantern Norway Road Off between 00:30am and Lit all night 5:30am 3.3 Recommendations A new lantern has been trialled which is suitable for footpath crossovers and will be installed in alleyways where there are problems. To assist with reported crime figures it was confirmed that East Sussex County Council is signed up to the ILP/LANTERNS project, launched in April 2013 - a research collaboration between local authorities in England & Wales and researchers at the University of London. It aims to quantify any effects of changes to street lighting on road traffic crashes and crimes. 4 Neighbourhood police to pass on comments received at street meetings for investigation. N.B. All comments are investigated and replied to - if a cost effective improvement can be made it is, if not the customer is told the reason why. A further review to be held in 12 months’ time to re-assess the impact of street lighting. 5 .