Green light for bright idea to save council £75,000 a year (From Knutsford Guardian)

Green light for bright idea to save council £75,000 a year

3:00pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News

COUNCIL bosses have approved plans to change the light bulbs in traffic lights in a move that will save the authority £75,000 a year.

The authority will replace traditional lights at all of its 117 traffic signal junctions and 32 pedestrian crossings across the borough with new LED signals – which are brighter, more clearly visible to road users and longer-lasting.

The belief is that the upgrade – which will cost £650,000 – will greatly improve safety, reduce accidents and increase the reliability of the service to road users and eliminate the risk of ‘total failure’ of individual signals.

Lamps in conventional traffic lights are changed every year. However LEDs can last between seven and 10 years – thus saving up to nine maintenance visits over their lifetime.

The authority said the move will cut energy consumption at signals by over 75 per cent – thereby significantly reducing CO2 emissions and the council’s electricity bill.

The majority of work in Knutsford – on the crossings on Mobberley Road and Toft Road – will take place week beginning November 12.

Work in Holmes Chapel on the A54 Chester Road near Selkirk Drive in Holmes Chapel will take place in the week beginning October 22, while the lights on the A50 Station Road will be replaced on November 12.

Lights on the A556 at Tabley will be replaced in the new year.

Clr Rod Menlove, cabinet member in charge of highways services, said: “This is excellent news for all Cheshire East road users.

“Safer roads are a significant goal for the council. This innovative use of technology will help deliver a far superior, safer, greener and more reliable service for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. It will also cost local taxpayers less to run and maintain.

“Using LEDs will cut CO2 emissions by 252 tonnes a year.

“This will contribute to Cheshire East Council’s commitment to reducing its carbon impact on the environment.”

Delays to the public will be minimised by not doing the work during the rush hours – unless absolutely necessary – avoiding school-run times and working at weekends on traffic-sensitive junctions.

An interest-free Government loan of £200,000 will also help fund the scheme.