Update following consultation with residents of those roads
Earlier this year the Parish Council were approached regarding the street lights on Cresent Mews and Thorold Way. The lights had been changed to turn off at midnight. Some residents had requested the lights were turned back on and approached the Parish Council.
The lights are controlled by LCC and not Harmston Parish Council, and therefore it was not as simple as reverting the lights back to their previous working hours. Before this could happen we were asked by LCC to gather the thoughts of the residents on those two streets, and ascertain how many wanted the lights turned back on. We also had to investigate and check which lights, and the process, rules and costs of asking LCC to turn the lights back on. As we are sure you can appreciate - all of these steps take time.
Once we had ascertained that Harmston Parish Council could request the lights to be turned back on and how to do this, and calculated the costs, we were able to take the next step. In August we sent a letter to the residents of Crescent Mews and Thorold Way (thank you to those who kindly replied) asking them to state if they would or would not like the lights turned back on. Some did not, but the majority of those that responded did. With that information the Parish Council were able to discuss and agree next steps.
At our last meeting the lights were discussed and a decision reached:
9/9 STREET LIGHTS AND ROADS
a) Update on Harmston Park Street Lights and agree actions Crescent Mews and Thorold Way Lights
A letter was sent to residents of Crescent Mews and Thorold Way to ascertain their opinion regarding the lights that currently switch off at midnight. Some residents had requested the lights be turned back on. In order for the Parish Council to request this (the lights are the responsibility of LCC), we had to show that the relevant resident’s opinions have been gathered. Not all households replied, but out of those that did, the majority have requested the lights be reinstated. This request carries a cost: £300 per light, or £150 per light (if altered as part of a scheduled service). All lights must be turned on, not just a handful. Therefore, the cost to turn the 12 lights back on will be £1800.00. It was RESOLVED: That LCC be instructed to turn the light back on from midnight during a scheduled service. ACTION: Clerk to contact LCC and request lights to be reinstated, T/D: 30/9/25 As part of this agreement, any future enquiries regarding these lights would go directly to the Parish Council and not LCC. Maintenance is every three months, and therefore there may be a delay.
(The read the minutes in full please click HERE)
In September we contacted LCC and requested that the lights be turned back on as part of their next scheduled service. This instruction has been confirmed and we await notification from LCC for when this may happen.
When we have further information it shall be shared here on the HPC website.