Crime prone sites in Acton and Northolt to get better lighting
Three areas which have been prone to anti-social behaviour are to get better lighting.
The schemes were chosen following reports from residents, ward councillors and the police and will now get £103,000 to improve visibility and safety, they are:
• The footbridge from Perryn Road to St Dunstan’s Avenue, Acton
• Shrublands Lane, Acton
• Cathay Walk, Northolt
This is the fifth year of the council’s Street Lighting Improvement Programme and, 23 streets have been upgraded of which 14 have also been converted to low energy LED lighting. Council data shows that on average, between April 2013 and February 2015, crimes decreased by 17% across the completed schemes.
In addition, the council is currently replacing its 22,000 high-pressure sodium streetlights. Except for the ornate streetlights in conservation areas and town centres, all will be converted to modern LED technology, improving night time visibility and saving the council more than half a million pounds a year in energy and environmental costs.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said:
“These schemes are warmly received by residents and the police, but not by criminals who don’t like well-lit roads and lanes. This latest funding brings our total investment in the Street Lighting Improvement Programme to more than half a million pounds which, in my view, is money well spent.
“And as we continue to replace our out of date high-pressure sodium lights with LED lanterns, the whole borough will benefit from better visibility; reducing road accidents and helping people to feel safer at night.”
The decision was taken by Ealing Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, 19 May. All cabinet decisions are subject to a call-in period of five working days from the date of publication of the minutes of the meeting.
26th May 2015