Major improvement work to transform lighting levels in Newark underway thanks to Home Office's Safer Streets Fund

Major improvement work got underway on Friday to transform lighting levels in Newark as part of an ambitious project to increase safety.

Nottinghamshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Foody visited the Chatham Court and Lover’s Lane area of the town where Via East Midlands street lighting operatives are upgrading existing lighting with new, brighter LED lanterns.

The works are part of the Safer Streets partnership being delivered by Nottinghamshire Police, Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire County Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council and Via East Midlands.

Nottinghamshire secured £550,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund, which is being channelled into a series of crime prevention measures in the Chatham and Northgate areas to improve the prevention and detection of acquisitive crime including burglary, vehicle crime and bicycle theft.

Project leaders have earmarked £150,000 for improved street lighting in the town alongside new CCTV/ANPR cameras, environmental improvements including the removal of graffiti, target hardening to improve security at the homes of victims of crime.

A new community hub will house a warden-type service to provide a single point of contact for residents to easily access support, advice and assistance.

LED lights emit white light that gives improved colour rendering and can help with police identification and CCTV.

It is hoped the higher level of luminance will also reassure residents, improve the look of the area at night and encourage safer movement on the streets.

The work will see the replacement of 72 older sodium lights in the Chatham Court, Albert Street, Castle Brewery Court, Eldon Street, Hardwick Avenue, Harewood Avenue, Princes Street, Rufford Avenue, Southend Avenue and Spring Gardens areas of Chatham Court.

Meanwhile, 31 new lights will be fitted in Lover’s Lane, Alliance Street, George Street, Mumby Close, Tithe Barn Court and Warburton Street.

Deputy PCC Foody said: “This is an important milestone in the Safer Streets project and one of a long list of practical changes being made to improve safety in Newark.

“The addition of new lighting in these areas will make a huge difference to public confidence and will help to reduce the fear of crime while also assisting police to detect crime.

“Together with the other security measures being invested in this area, including additional CCTV and ANPR cameras, we hope to significantly reduce the risk of crime to those who live and work in Newark.”

Clare Murden, street lighting project lead for Via, said: “It’s great to work together with the other agencies to help make the project a success and make a difference to a local community.”

Chief Inspector Elizabeth Rogers said: “This very welcome improvement programme will play a positive role in our ongoing work to tackle burglaries, bicycle thefts and vehicle crime.

“Burglary in particular is a deeply upsetting crime that can have a lasting impact on people whose homes and lives have been violated.”