Street Lights...what Next?

[thelewisgang]

Over 8 weeks ago 6 street lights in my road failed to come on & they haven't been on since.

The county council were not interested and said the company who built the houses should be contacted. After several emails by myself and my near neighbours they finally said they were now the responsibility of a management company and we have been emailing and ringing them for the last few weeks. We were first told they would get their inspectors out then they were waiting for their report. 14 days ago they said they had instructed their contractors to do whatever it takes to fix them. We are still in darkness!

Lights in the area where we park our cars are maintained by a housing association and although they said they put an urgent repair to their sub contractors, nothing has been done. It is extremely dark in these areas and the narrow path leading to my/my neighbours houses is quite secluded. It is a worry and some people are concerned about falling.

Several of us have made phone calls and sent emails and each time we are told they will see what the holdup is and keep us informed but they don't. We feel there must be some sort of circuit issue because all these lights failed to come on the same evening.

We need these areas lit especially as some residents live on their own, are disabled or elderly. We really don't know what to do next. Any suggestions welcomed

[thelewisgang]

I think I will contact the local newspaper to get them on the case. I hadn't thought of doing that.
I contacted the local MP 10 days ago and received an automated reply but nothing since.

[barry1010]

sanmac, over here the street lights on a public hihgway are generally the responsibility of the council or highway agencies depending on the type of road; it may be different for private roads (unadopted by the council) and the OP mentions car parking areas - if these are private car parks then they are not the responsibility of the council

[bednobs]

just to be clear, i was suggesting a torch as a temporary fix to what the OP seemed to put over as the main problem - narrow path, dark, people worried about falling over. The lights are NOT going to be fixed today (probably) but if they've been stumbling around in the dark for 8 weeks, i just wondered why they hadn't thought of a torch

[THECORBYLOON]

If you contact the newspaper by e-mail, copy in your local councillor.

[dave50]

As a side issue, how do local councils obsession with wanting to jump on the climate change bandwagon by switching off street lights, sit by also keeping the streets safe by leaving street lights on all night. Which is their priority? I could hazard a guess.

[Maydup]

It could be inefficiency or it might be a case of them not knowing what the problem is. Likely the first of course, but in case it’s still being investigated it might be worth asking the county, the builders and the housing association specifically for a temporary solution while you await a repair.

We don’t have street lights where we live and it’s really dark and slippery but it is a safe area and we all take torches. Sympathies.

[ladybirder]

A tip for you Lewisgang. Never sent your MP an email. Go to his surgery and talk to him.
From one who knows:-(

[emmie]

Newspaper contact them pronto, and then see in person your local MP, and tell the people that have failed you at every level, that you intend to sue if someone gets hurt. which could well happen.

[gumboot]

Post the complaint on Fixmystreet. The complaint will go to your local council as you have to disclose your postcode but the council will put pressure on the housing association to get it done. There are safety partnerships in place with virtually every council nowadays. It might help if your neighbours complain on the website too as it'll embarrass the council.

[thelewisgang]

I have now emailed the newspaper pouring out the problems. I hope I receive a reply or phone number. I have no idea if my local MP holds surgeries near me. The website gives an address but no dates are listed. I have also sent yet another email to the housing association who are responsible for the car park area lights and will await their reply with possibly more excuses. Surely it shouldn't take this amount of time for their investigations to be done and to get the lights back on. It is so frustrating

[sanmac]

Barry, thanks for that explanation at 0817.

[thelewisgang]

I just wanted to post an update on my post from the end of last week.

I contacted the local newspaper, as suggested but they haven't replied, not even an acknowledgement.

As I said previously I emailed my MP although one reply told me not to bother.

I received a swift reply and it said this...

"unfortunately members of parliament do not always have the influence and jurisdiction people think. They are elected to represent constituents in debates about legislation going through national Parliament and their dealings with central government and agents. As an MP he doesn't have the authority to interfere in the workings of private companies"

His secretary said he/she would be happy to email the managing directors of the two companies responsible for maintaining the lights and I received notification late yesterday afternoon that this had been done. Here's hoping the MD's will find out why there has been such a long delay in the repairs. This weekend it will be 10 weeks since the lights failed to come on, plenty of time I would have thought to rectify the problem even if it is complex. Here's hoping!

[THECORBYLOON]

Have you contacted your local councillor?

[Hopkirk]

I don't suppose you live in the area covered by BBC 3 counties radio? (Beds, Herts and Bucks)

If so, contact Jonathan Vernon Smith on the JVS show. He's excellent at this sort of thing, and will get it sorted.

[thelewisgang]

I will find out today who my local councillor is. Hopkirk I live in rural Lincolnshire

[Hopkirk]

Pity.