Street Lighting FAQs

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How are street light faults repaired?

The general public can help by reporting faulty lights using the online form or the Lights Out Line on 0800 137 352.

All reports are cross-checked against previous fault records on the computer system and then transmitted to the contractor who has up to 5 working days in which to repair the fault.

If the Local Electricity Company cable is faulty, then repairs to individual lamps should be carried out within fifteen working days or within 24 hours for priority sites such as pedestrian crossings.

What happens in an emergency?

One-hour emergency response procedures are used for defined priority situations (for example pedestrian crossings or accident-damaged or vandalised units which are electrically unsafe).

Who monitors street lights?

There are a number of ways in which lighting faults are reported:

• County Council Night Patrol Staff check all the adopted lighting every fortnight during the hours of darkness, throughout the year.
• Members of the public report defective lighting. (Particularly for lights burning in the middle of the day, which would not normally be picked up by the night patrol.)
• Requests from the Police in cases where emergency action is required.

How are the lights maintained?

The County Council carries out Routine or Cyclic Maintenance so that each streetlight and illuminated sign is visited annually, the lantern cleaned and all other remaining components checked for electrical and structural safety.

At one of these visits the lamp is changed according to a pre-determined interval dependent on the lamp type and burning period. Any rogue lamps which burn out before the end of this period are changed free of charge by the maintenance contractor.

Any other faults reported by the patrollers or the public should be repaired within 5 working days.

This method of maintenance ensures that lighting units are kept in operation most efficiently and offers best value for money.

There are some occasions when the fault requires the attention of the local Electricity Company (Central Networks), and a Standard of Service Agreement has been negotiated so cable faults should normally be repaired within 15 working days.