A message from Catherine Smart

No-one who has lived in Romsey for more than a couple of years will forget the endless saga of the refurbishment and replacement of the street lights.   Even the narrowest of pavements were dug up for months and all the protests seemed to make little difference.

BalfourBeatty, the firm the Tory County Council contracted to do the work are about to complete their work in the historic city centre.   The good news is that they are not ripping out the Richardson Candles but will refurbish them.   They are even promising “minimal disruption” – so perhaps they have learnt something after all!

Balfour Beatty say, – As we reach the end of our Core Investment Programme in the City Centre we are now refurbishing the Richardson Candles to ensure they are safe and serviceable for the next 25 years.  This is a specialist activity and we have engaged with JW Lighting to carry out these works as they specialise in heritage lighting.

 The programme will commence next week (w/c 27 September) and there should be minimal disruption on site.  The team will be removing the lighting units from the column, or wall mounted brackets, to carefully restore them in their workshop.  Where no other lighting is available on a street, we will install a temporary light fitting while this work is undertaken.  Notices will be placed on site to keep the public informed.  While this work is taking place we will refurbish the column and wall brackets on site, painting them and undertaking any electric work required.  Finally, the refurbished lighting unit will be installed back on site. 

 Attached is the outline programme, which is subject to change.  I would advise you refer to our website at http://www.lightingcambridgeshire.com/cambridge for an up to date schedule.  We have asked JW Lighting to ensure they door knock to those effected residents before work commences.

 If they do what they promise we won’t have to avoid the city centre after dark for the next three months!

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