Street lights revamp in Somerset

Hundreds of street lights are being replaced in and around Weston-super-Mare and Worle over the next few months.

The work involves replacing 154 old type six and eight-metre concrete columns and 141 five-metre lighting columns for North Somerset council.

Existing concrete street lighting columns will be replaced with 100% fully recyclable aluminium units with a life expectancy of over 70 years.

As part of the works, existing sodium lights (yellow light) will be replaced with new generation metal halide lamps (white light) units which operate at half power between 8pm and 6am.

Deputy leader and executive member for highways, Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, said: "Not only are these lighting columns all recyclable but the lights now being used incorporate the latest dimming technology, reducing energy, maintenance costs, and reducing carbon emissions, helping us to meet government targets for energy efficiencies."

Contractor Scottish and Southern Energy (contracting) are carrying out the works at a cost of £314,000.

The contract is due for completion by mid-January next year.