Middleton Township councillors unhappy with lighting scheme

Middleton Township councillors made their feelings to representatives from the Community Lighting Partnership regarding the current scheme that is being rolled out to upgrade street lighting.

Councillors are unhappy with the way work has been undertaken and the upset it is causing to local residents.

Steve Haddock, director at Community Lighting Partnership updated councillors on the work at the Middleton Township Committee meeting on Thursday 6 March.

During the presentation it was noted that several phases of work were completed throughout Middleton between September 2011 and May 2012 with a second phase taking place between June and July 2012.

Councillor Philip Burk said he was “disgusted to find street lights were being removed.” He added: “You are turning safe streets into dangerous areas because you have taken away lamp posts that didn’t need to be removed. Residents are now scared to come out of their homes because of how dark it is.”

The joint Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is a project between Rochdale Council, Oldham Council, the Community Lighting Partnership and energy company E.ON.

Councillor Neil Emmott said: “I have never dealt with a more frustrating company than E.ON. I have received more complaints about this than anything else.”

Councillor Linda Robinson told of one particular case that she wanted sorted "sooner rather than later". She said: “I have been dealing with one case for two years and the attitude from some of the officers has been appalling. A street light has been put directly outside of a gentleman’s bedroom and he has not had any sleep for two years. I have seen the pictures and I will take you there myself to have a look because I want this sorted.”

The lighting scheme is being rolled out across the whole of the borough and is replacing old street lighting columns with new and upgraded columns.

The new lighting columns have also received negative reaction from residents and many have also complained to E.ON.

At the meeting, Steve Haddock said: “We have received a number of resident complaints stating that the lighting is too dark but all of the lighting is up to the current standard.”

Councillor Emmott added: “We are the client and you have a duty to respond to us within a reasonable time. We are the customer and the customer is always right.”

It is understood that a dedicated complaints line has now been set up and details of that line will be passed to the councillors.

Representatives from E.ON did not attend the township meeting.