Street lighting fight continues

Revised plans for street lighting in Southwell are still falling short of town councillors’ expectations.

Nottinghamshire County Council halted its street light renewal scheme amid criticism that the lamps’ design was not in keeping with the town’s conservation area.

Town councillors want modern-style metal lamps on Church Street and Easthorpe replaced with a shorter heritage-style design, and any further new lights to also be of this style.

The county council’s latest plans, viewed by Southwell’s planning committee, showed inclusion of some heritage-style lighting, but still not enough, according to members.

The committee chairman, Mr Brendan Haigh, said: “It seems to show the shorter lamp columns as far as the old Minster School buildings and these will have a heritage lantern on similar to the Victorian lamp standards alongside the minster.

“The shorter lamp standards are shown on the plan and as far as I can tell they don’t obstruct the view of the listed buildings. My understanding was that the (town) council would like the Victorian heritage-style lanterns not only along Church Street close to the minster but that part of Easthorpe up to the Old Coach House.”

Councillors agreed to make this request to the county council.

“This is an important conservation area and the town council will not accept any type of modern lighting,” Mr Haigh said.

Mr John Robinson the lighting was particular important on Easthorpe, where almost all of the buildings were 150 to 300-years-old.

“They are smallish buildings so obviously the smaller lamp standards would look better. I don’t see why when you go round the bend in the road they should be different,” Mr Robinson said.

Mr Roger Dobson agreed and said: “We have a very strong heritage agenda and we’ve had a lot of heritage street furniture and a lot of heritage-style signage has gone into the town over the last few years, and to have the equivalent in terms of lighting seems to make absolute sense.”

Mr Haigh was concerned that if the town council requested the heritage lights the county council would say they did not have the money to replace the modern lamps and the rest of the lighting scheme would never be completed.

County councillor Mr Bruce Laughton said the lights would have to be replaced at some point because they were faulty.

He said the county council made a mistake by installing new-style lamps without consulting the town council.

The town council also agreed to set up a working group, comprising Mr Haigh, Mr Gregory and Mr Robinson.

The group will devise a lighting strategy that the council council will be made aware of.