Street Lighting
POLICY DOCUMENT 3 - NOTES FOR GUIDANCE AND CONSULTATION
DOCUMENT FOR NEW OR REPLACEMENT STREET LIGHTING SCHEMES (page
2)
5) AESTHETICS / VISUAL APPEARANCE
5.1 GENERAL PRACTICE
When siting columns the preferred location, wherever possible,
is between houses, between drives or on the house side of the
drive. Although this is not always possible. Columns are normally
sited at the back of footways or in verges. To minimise obstruction
on the footway and possible damage to columns from vehicle
impact.
5.2 BUILT HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION
CONSIDERATIONS
BANES contains a rich variety of historic buildings and
landscapes which impart a strong sense of place and regional
identity. Bath is a world heritage site and approximately 66% of
the city is designated a conservation area. Outside Bath are 34
conservation areas which include villages, hamlets and historic
towns such as Radstock and Keynsham. It is the responsibility of
the Council to protect these conservation areas by refusing poorly
designed improvements and development. Any scheme which proposes
light fixtures either attached to listed buildings, or within their
curtilage, will require listed building consent. Other factors to
be considered when introducing new or replacement street lighting
into these areas are authenticity, suitability, light levels,
positioning, height, design of the fittings and the colour produced
by the light source.
5.3 URBAN DESIGN / STREET SCAPE CONSIDERATIONS
The character of areas being lit varies dramatically and
therefore the design solution should also vary accordingly. Whilst
all parts of the district are equally important, there has been a
particular interest in town centres which has spawned the
development of projects that aimed at defining a “streetscape”
character. This aims to adopt street furniture and lighting units
which are attractive, modern, functionally appropriate and
consistently applied to whole areas over a period of time.
5.4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
There has been a lot of publicity recently about light pollution
that is becoming increasingly bad in the developed world. US
satellite data, collected by the Council for the Protection of
Rural England, now shows that there are few places left in Britain
where people can get a clear view of the night sky. In the past
seven years, light pollution has increased by 24%, and an eerie
orange glow from artificial light has spread over more than two
thirds of the land. Large swathes of the Midlands and the Lake
District which only a few years ago were black at night now glow in
the dark; and only people in the highlands and islands of Scotland,
the Borders, mid Wales and parts of the West Country really know
the grandeur and beauty of the night.
Bath & North East Somerset recognise this as a serious
environmental problem and make every effort to limit light
pollution when installing new or replacement lighting. By using
equipment which eliminates direct upward light whilst ensuring
roads and pavements are well lit.
5.5 ATTACHMENT OF STREET LIGHTS TO BUILDING /
WAYLEAVES
Where scheme designs identify proposed lighting being fixed to a
building an approach will be made to the affected house/houses
using a standard wayleave agreement under the Public Health Act
1961 section 45.
5.6 FUNDING 3RD PARTY CONTRIBUTIONS
A 3rd party contribution would be required from
residents/parishes who after consultation propose extra or
different equipment, such as ornamental style lanterns or detailed
embellishment on columns, to that identified by the Council as
being an appropriate solution for a scheme.
6) IDENTIFICATION / PRIORITISATION OF SCHEMES
There are two sources of funding for new lighting schemes;
Capital and Revenue.
6.1 CAPITAL
This is primarily used when requests for new or improved
lighting are received from Residents, Parish Councils or Council
Members. Details of the criteria and process used for this
evaluation can be found in Street Lighting (Policy Document 2)
“Priority Criteria Assessments for Evaluation of New or Improved
Street Lighting Schemes”
6.2 REVENUE
This source of funding is used for maintenance and replacement
of existing assets. The street lighting contractor undertakes an
annual inspection of every street light and illuminated traffic
sign / bollard within the Council’s area. All assets are checked
for electrical safety and structural stability. The results are
recorded and evaluated by the council staff to establish a
programme of works and to ensure appropriate action is taken to
maintain the assets in a safe condition. The programmes provide the
basis of any major replacement schemes arising from this process
and usually occur when the assets are in excess of their expected
life which is 25 Years.
7) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is replacement necessary?
Usually because some of the existing lighting is in a bad
structural condition through age. Also the lighting may keep
failing due to the electrical condition of the assets or it may be
that the illumination levels do not meet modern requirements
How is a new scheme installed?
Locations for the new streetlights are marked out on the ground
and the new columns installed. Once the new lights are connected
the old columns are removed?
Why are the new street lights in different positions to the
old ones?
Present day codes of practice and provision of appropriate
levels of illumination require street lights to be more closely
spaced. This results in different positions for the new
columns.
Is there a policy about where columns are located?
The Council aims to position columns between houses, between
drives or on the house side of the drive. n although this is not
always possible. Columns are normally sited at the back of footways
or in verges. This minimises obstruction on the footway and helps
prevent damage to columns and vehicles.
Does anybody check the column positions before they are put
up?
Every column position is checked on site to make sure that
access to houses and commercial premises is not obstructed.
Why is there a delay between putting up new street lights and
taking out the old ones?
Connections and disconnections to new street lights are the
responsibility of the Distribution Network Operator (Western Power
Distribution). The timescales they apply to street light
connections are longer than those applied to connections to
buildings.
What happens to the excavated area adjacent to the new
street
lighting columns?
A temporary reinstatement is carried out to existing ground
level and once all electrical connections have been made and
redundant columns removed, a permanent reinstatement is carried
out.
To report street lighting faults
Faults should be reported via the Council’s “Action Line” The
number is (01225) 394041.
It helps greatly if when reporting a fault you provide the
column identification number, and/or an accurate geographical
location, (i.e. outside house No. 2, Station 15 Road, Midsomer
Norton). This enables us to deal with the faulty lamp quickly and
efficiently.
Remember that you can also report defective illuminated and
non-illuminated traffic signs and bollards, on this number.
What happens next?
General Maintenance faults that have been reported are normally
attended to within the following 5 working days. Usually most
street lamps will be operational again after the first visit. If
the fault is within the underground Western Power Distribution
electrical supply then repairs can take, on average, up to 10 days
longer to correct. Similarly, if the lighting column has been
damaged in a road traffic accident, repairs take longer.
How do I get more information?
In the first instance you should contact the Street Lighting
Section, whose Officers are responsible for street lighting. They
can be contacted directly on (01225) 394263.
8) SCHEME SPECIFIC INFORMATION
This pack consists of a series of appendices, which explain the
various solutions available for relighting a specific chosen
area.
The pack includes the following: -
1. Scheme specific details information sheet
2. Detailed scheme plans of locations of existing assets
3. Detailed scheme plans of locations of proposed assets
4. Estimated cost for design solution(s)
5. Colour pictures of similar installations and equipment
6. Timetable of proposed dates
7. Copy of any comments received from Built Heritage
On receipt and reading of the information in this pack please
disseminate the contents to local residents. Any comments should be
made to the council either in writing or by telephoning 01225
394263.
9) CONTACT LIST
Peter Brook, Highway, Network Manager 01225 394339
Keith Showering, Team Leader, Street Lighting 01225 394342
Charles Jones, Street lighting Engineer 01225 395157
APPENDICIES
APPENDIX DESCRIPTION ENCLOSED
1. Scheme specific details information sheet YES/NO
2. Detailed scheme plans of locations of existing assets
YES/NO
3. Detailed scheme plans of locations of proposed assets
YES/NO
4. Estimated cost for design solution(s) YES/NO
5. Colour pictures of similar instillation and type of equipment
YES/NO
6. Timetable of proposed dates YES/NO
7. Copy of any comments received from Built Heritage YES/NO
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