Streetlight replacement programme completed
The last streetlight in the two-year, £10 million scheme was installed this week by the council’s contractor Enerveo - formerly SSE Enterprise.
With this phase of work now completed, the LED-driven lighting network will deliver 1,300 fewer tonnes of carbon and result in energy savings of more than three million kWh each year.
In total, 25,037 lanterns have been replaced as well as 10,019 streetlight columns. Replacing so many of the old sodium bulbs means there will not only be a 60% energy reduction but also an annual saving on the borough’s energy of around half a million pounds, based on energy costs at the time of completion. The ultra-reliable LED units should also see a reduction in maintenance and repair costs.
Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee for Wirral Council, said:
Replacing the whole streetlighting network with an energy-saving solution is an important target for us in Wirral as we tackle the climate emergency. The achievement of making the vast majority of our streetlights more energy efficient and more suitable for the greener, environmentally-friendly future we want for the borough, should not be underestimated.
“Streetlights are an essential part of making our community feel safe during the hours of darkness, especially residents who are out walking, cycling, or using other modes of sustainable transport.
