What we do, our objectives and policies

Who is responsible?
Most street lights in Cambridgeshire are owned and maintained by the County Council, but some remain the direct responsibility of Parish and District Councils.

Regardless of ownership, all reports can be made to one freephone number 0800 253529. The County Council maintains over 57,500 street lights, 2,500 illuminated traffic signs and 2,000 illuminated bollards.

What is our overall objective?
To ensure that suitable lighting systems are provided in relation to road and footpath use, traffic and pedestrian density and taking account of environmental considerations, and to maintain the systems in operation at all times as far as is reasonably practical.

How do we work?
Our maintenance contractor carries out regular night-time inspection checks on the operation of all street lights and illuminated signs. This is done every two weeks all year round.

All street lighting maintenance faults, including illuminated bollards and signs, are on average dealt with within seven working days. A higher level of priority is given to urgent faults that represent an immediate danger, such as a door off with wires exposed, are normally made safe within two hours of being reported.

Some faults are due to a loss of the Regional Electricity Company (EDF energy) power supply, which are beyond our control to rectify. In this instance, EDF energy are notified immediately and they try to repair street light supply fault as quickly as possible, however their high priority is to restore supplies to households and businesses in preference to any individual street lighting supply failure.

The streetlight columns with supply cable faults are clearly identified with a temporary ‘yellow’ label so that you will know this is the problem.

It is not possible to repair individual lights as soon as a fault occurs. We repair 18,000 faults each year and the high cost of the contractor going to repair a specific fault means that it is only possible to do this in cases of emergency.

By having a planned programme of repairs throughout the county we can keep the cost of repairs to a minimum, make the best use of the annual maintenance budget of about £21 per lamp per year, minimise the time lamps are out and the number out at any one time.

The Council is required to report its performance to the Audit Commission every year.  In 2005/2006 the average number of street lights out at any one time in Cambridgeshire was 1.3%.

Who decides what lighting is needed?
New lighting is installed in places where there is a high accident rate at night, or as part of a highway improvement scheme, where the predicted flow of traffic is such that a sufficient percentage of night-time accidents will be prevented by providing more lighting.

We aim to keep the annual energy costs of around £17 per lamp per year.

Any suggestions for minor improvements to street lighting must be supported by County Councillors and Parish or Town Councillors.

A priority list is maintained so that schemes with the greatest benefits can be implemented when funds are made available.

How can faults be reported?
There are times when street lights can develop faults between inspections. This is where everyone can help. If you notice a light that needs attention, because the light is off or the column door is open, please let us know by contacting us:

Freephone: 0800 253529
(answering machine after office hours)
Fax: 01480 454565 

Please describe the following:

• The fault description (e.g. out, lit during daytime, lamp dim etc.).
• The street name, village, town or city (and local area name in Cambridge City).
• Quote the identification number, which is either painted or on a plate on the street light column. This may consist of various letters such as CCC, EC or SCDC followed by a number, or be just one number.

This is necessary information which will enable us to locate exactly which column needs attention and to enter it on our computerised monitoring system.

Emergency faults which are likely to cause an immediate risk to life or limb should be reported to the police , either by telephoning the nearest police station or, in extreme emergencies, by dialling 999.

It is particularly helpful when we are made aware immediately of any damage made by accident or vandalism.

A message about any routine faults can be left in the evenings and at weekends on the answering machine.

Answering your enquiries
If you write to us, or e-mail us we will give you a reply within two weeks. For complex problems we will let you know what is happening within two weeks and keep you regularly informed of progress.

A County Council guide to making suggestions and complaints is available in all libraries and main offices.

Where can I get more information?
If you would like further information about street lighting issues please contact the County Council's Lighting Engineer.