Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council : LED lights milestone

More than three quarters of Bolton's street lights are now using new LED lighting.
Almost 19,500 lights in 3,153 streets have been upgraded since the rollout began in April 2015.
Work is continuing throughout the borough and approximately 26,000 lights on residential streets and main roads are being replaced with lower carbon LED lanterns.
The project has already benefitted many areas including: Astley Bridge; Bradshaw; Blackrod; Bromley Cross; Crompton; Great Lever; Halliwell; Harper Green; Horwich; Heaton; Hulton; Lostock; Little Lever and Darcy Lever; Rumworth; Smithills; Tonge with the Haulgh, and Westhoughton.
The street lighting programme should save the council £14m over 20 years and reduce energy use by around 50 per cent.
The council spends £2.1m on energy bills every year, and carbon dioxide emissions cost the council £100k annually.
Bolton Council's Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Cllr Nick Peel, said: 'Reaching this milestone is excellent news for the project and it means we should start making savings.
'The feedback from our residents has been overwhelmingly positive and I'd like to thank them for their support.
'The LED programme will ultimately save taxpayers money - the technology will help us to save thousands on our annual energy bills and reduce our carbon footprint.

'We are also recycling our old lanterns as we make progress with the project, and so far we have recycled 59 tonnes.'
Teams are currently working in Bromley Cross and the next area to benefit from the new lighting will be Kearsley. Work is due to start there in mid-February with Breightmet and Farnworth to follow in future months.
An LED lighting unit can last for up to 100,000 hours, compared to a sodium street light which lasts for around 15,000.
LEDs are also brighter and keep the streets well-lit and safe for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, reducing the chance of accidents and crime. They also improve the quality of images captured at night on CCTV.
The new lights are controlled centrally using the Mayflower Smart Control Central Management System, which reduces inspection costs and makes it easier to repair faults. This system also enables lighting levels to be varied accordingly.

Head of Mayflower Smart Control, Patrick Mitchell, added: 'Mayflower's unique and proven central management system has a vital role to play in helping local authorities like Bolton Council meet their energy reduction targets.'

Residents can get more information about the LED programme online www.bolton.gov.uk/LEDlighting. For queries about street lighting contact [e-mail].