Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Project Manager, KCC Highways and Transportation.

The Senior Project Engineer (SPE) introduced the report which gave an update on the Safe and Sensible Street Lighting project.  As part of Phase 1 of the project, four sites in the Dover District had initially been switched off for a period of 12 months which had subsequently been extended to 2 years.  Consultation with the Police indicated that there had largely been no impact on crime or road safety as a result of the switch-off.

In respect of Whitfield Hill, 15 enquiries had been received since 2013.   One incident of crime had occurred in December 2013 but this had not been related to the absence of lighting.   If columns were restored, the cost of running and maintaining them needed to be taken into account.

Councillor G Cowan expressed surprise that it was proposed to remove columns on Whitfield Hill.   Before 2013 there had been fatalities there, and a couple of cars had recently ended up in the roadside hedge. Councillor M R Eddy stressed that an improved maintenance regime was needed for road markings and reflectors if there was to be no lighting.  The SPE advised that there were always a number of factors involved in any road traffic accident.  For each site the team had considered whether lighting was a contributory factor, but he undertook to review this site. He advised that maintenance work had been carried out in 2013 on road studs and reflectors, and that additional markers could be installed to help motorists maintain a visual line.  However, beyond that there was no special maintenance regime for unlit roads.  In response to Councillor M J Ovenden, he agreed to review whether lights in the vicinity of houses could remain in place.  In response to Members who suggested cats’ eyes to replace reflector strips on columns, the SPE undertook to investigate these whilst highlighting their relatively high cost.  He also agreed to look at reflectors for the escape lane.

In respect of the A257 Ash Bypass, Councillor P I Carter raised concerns about agricultural workers using the road in darkness.   Councillor L B Ridings commented that he had received no enquiries or concerns about this site since switch-off.  The SPE clarified that only two junctions were currently lit.

In respect of Betteshanger Road, the SPE advised that, whilst there had been no concerns raised about crime, it was recommended that the lights be left switched off but not removed at this stage until such time as it became clearer what impact the Hadlow College development would have on traffic numbers, etc.

Turning to Farthingloe, Folkestone Road, Members were advised that, whilst there had been one serious accident involving a foreign lorry driver, the absence of lighting had not been a factor.   It was proposed to restore lighting to six columns to coincide with the start of the 40mph speed limit and light the cycle path.  Columns outside this area would be removed. 

Councillor Cowan commented that there had been two burglaries at the farm shop immediately after the switch-off.  He had therefore requested that a small number of columns around the farm shop be switched back on.  Councillor N J Collor agreed, adding that the Farthingloe development would be considerably bigger than development taking place at Betteshanger.  The SPE undertook to review the reinstatement of five columns around the farm shop.   He added that Farthingloe was likely to require significant improvements and changes to the road network in order to provide an access to the new development.   The development access layout was most likely to incorporate use of the existing lights.  At Betteshanger the road was relatively new and the alignment straightforward which meant that it was likely that the Hadlow development would be able to use the existing lights.  The SPE undertook to consult the KCC development team who had details of the proposals.

Councillor P Walker commented that there would almost certainly be an increase in criminal activity in residential areas if lighting were removed.  The SPE responded that, following the implementation of part-night lighting across the county, Police analysis had indicated that there was no correlation between crime and darkness and, in fact, crime had increased and decreased in both lit and unlit areas.

In response to questions from Members about the lack of certainty surrounding column switch-off times, the SPE advised that columns used cheaper lunar-based timers.  The new LED columns would incorporate a clock-based timer linked to a central management system.

Councillor Cowan referred to the recent consultation on LED lights, and suggested that KCC should wait to see the outcome of this consultation before making any decisions on removing columns, particularly as considerable savings were likely to be made.  The SPE explained that the switch-off exercise had begun at a time when the availability of £40 million to install LED columns could not have been foreseen. If the roads which were the subject of the switch-off were being built today, lighting would not be installed.   He emphasised that installing LED lights at these sites was not an option.

RESOLVED:  That, notwithstanding that Members have significant concerns about some of the proposals, recommendations not be made to the KCC Cabinet Member at this stage as it is considered appropriate to wait until the outcome of the LED project consultation is known, and that this should be the subject of a report to the Board at the earliest opportunity.