Row as city council's new lampposts start appearing on streets without consultation

CLIFTON residents have complained that new street lights have been put up outside their houses without any notice.

The city council is replacing street lighting across the city in a �120 million 25-year PFI deal.

But Ian West, of Ruddington Lane, said he came home from work to find a lamppost on the border of his and his neighbour's front gardens and the pavement.

He said: "I wasn't told about it. I've not had a letter.

"I don't want it there – to me it's an eyesore. There are better suited places, you only need to walk around Ruddington Lane to see existing posts.

"The kids ride their bikes on the open-fronted gardens and my concern is that there will be a accident. There's no doubt about it.

"There's a chance a kid on a bike will rise into one of those lampposts."

He said his neighbour is also unhappy about the position of the lamppost – and that one across the road was removed recently following complaints.

Ward councillor Andrew Price, leader of the Conservatives at the city, said he and fellow Tory ward councillor Timothy Spencer had written to the portfolio holder for transport, Councillor Jane Urquhart, formally requesting that works be temporarily stopped for further consultations. They had also met officers from the council and from Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE).

Mr Price said: "We need street lighting. The consultation didn't happen properly but we're going to look on a case-by-case basis and see if we can improve it.

"SSE's response has been very professional. My expectation is that we'll solve most people's reasonable issues but that will take a few weeks."

An SSE spokesman said consultation carried out included a presentation, leaflet deliveries to all households affected and information signs.

She said in some cases the ground had not been marked showing the new positions of the lamp posts, as is supposed to happen.

She added: "We have apologised to the residents of Ruddington Lane. There are six people who weren't happy. Six people is six too many but nevertheless we're replacing 27,000 street lights over a five-year period.

"New procedures have been put in place to prevent this from ever happening again.

Mrs Urquhart was not available for comment.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/148c9808/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CRow0Ecity0Ecouncil0Es0Enew0Elampposts0Estart0Eappearing0Estreets0Econsultation0Carticle0E350A89270Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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