Northamptonshire gets £132m for street lights

More than £132m of Government funding will be made available to improve street lighting in Northamptonshire

Local and Regional Transport Minister Norman Baker said the Private Finance Initiative funding will allow Northamptonshire County Council to carry out vital improvements and maintenance to their street lighting.

The PFI scheme will fund the maintenance of the street lights for the next 25 years.

In the next 5 years the county council will replace about two-thirds of its lighting stock throughout the county with the remaining third of columns having their lamps and electronics changed.

A new centrally controlled management system will also be installed which will pick up any faults remotely, removing the need for inspection patrols.

Baker said: “Good street lighting is vitally important in cutting road accidents. Updating lights which are long past their best before date will also reduce energy consumption.

“That is why, despite current financial constraints, we have made over £132million available to Northamptonshire for this important scheme.

“We will continue to invest in transport infrastructure that improves safety and provides reassurance to local communities. “

The announcement will allow Northamptonshire to move to the final stages of contractual arrangements. It is expected that work could commence later this year.