North Watford streetlight situation 'crazy' (From Watford Observer)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WO to 80360, or email us
North Watford streetlight situation is 'crazy' say Politicians
8:50am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News
By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter
North Watford streetlight situation 'crazy'
Politicians have attacked the "crazy" situation in a north Watford road where hazard signs are illuminated all night but the dangerous bends are left cloaked in darkness by the streetlight switch-off.
Hertfordshire County Council has also come under fire for the fact the warning signs are lit up 24 hours a day, which local councillors say undermines its cuts-saving argument for turning out the street lamps.
The authority, which introduced a part-night lighting scheme in 2011, said it was looking into the inconsistency between the streetlights and sign lighting.
Mark Watkin, the Liberal Democrat county councillor for the Nascot and Park division, said he understood the times the hazard lights were lit were due to national guidelines.
He said: "Think it is crazy that there is a different policy from the Department of Transport and the county.
"They should have the light on for the sign and they should have the street lights on as well.
Ringway, the company contracted to maintain the roads system by Hertfordshire County Council, said it was aware of the inconsistency with the lights and was working to address it.
Matthew Kelley, Ringway divisional manager, said: "Historically, not all the lighting columns across the county were set-up to allow for the county council's county-wide part night lighting scheme, particularly on the few where there are additional signage wiring requirements on the lighting columns to ensure road traffic safety.
"We are working closely with Hertfordshire County Council to address this at the earliest opportunity."
Since 2011 the Conservative-controlled county council has turned the majority of the Hertfordshire’s streetlights off between midnight and 6am as part of a £1million-a-year cost-saving scheme.
The initiative has proved controversial with residents and more than 5,000 people have signed a petition to have the lights restored.
Steve Johnson, a Conservative Watford Borough councillor, said the fact the warning lights were on 24 hours a day while streetlights were turned off sent a confused message to residents.
He said: "This was bought to the attention of the county council last April. How do they expect residents to support turning lights off at midnight if county are prepared to leave other lights on 24 hours a day? If the part night lighting scheme has anything to do with a green agenda they should sort this problem out".
Comments(15)
TRT
says...
9:36am Wed 30 Jan 13
*PHWEEP* *PHWEEP* *PHWEEP*
Ox droppings detected!
The part-night lighting is achieved by way of a replacement version of the photocell which only switches the lumiere at the top. The supplementary feed for the road signs, when they are fitted onto the lamp post (most are wastefully on their own column increasing street clutter) is wired into the distribution board and fusing behind the inspection panel at the base of the column.
TRT
says...
9:38am Wed 30 Jan 13
Jim_UK
says...
9:44am Wed 30 Jan 13
crazyfrog
says...
12:39pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Jim_UK wrote:No the farce of the street light problem affects the whole of Hertfordshire and was caused by Herts useless highways panel , this one is not down to the mayor of watford
Didn't Dotty and Co support turning the lights off until it proved unpopular? I know one of them suggested people should be in bed by 11pm.
TRT
says...
12:47pm Wed 30 Jan 13
crazyfrog wrote:The theory is quite good. The implementation is rubbish. Should have been alternate lights fitted with the new sensors on every road, major and minor.
Jim_UK wrote:No the farce of the street light problem affects the whole of Hertfordshire and was caused by Herts useless highways panel , this one is not down to the mayor of watford
Didn't Dotty and Co support turning the lights off until it proved unpopular? I know one of them suggested people should be in bed by 11pm.
Jim_UK
says...
12:57pm Wed 30 Jan 13
crazyfrog wrote:I'm well aware of that, it's the sudden change of opinion I was commenting on.
Jim_UK wrote:No the farce of the street light problem affects the whole of Hertfordshire and was caused by Herts useless highways panel , this one is not down to the mayor of watford
Didn't Dotty and Co support turning the lights off until it proved unpopular? I know one of them suggested people should be in bed by 11pm.
MarsLander
says...
1:04pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Jim_UK wrote:Sounds very likely.
crazyfrog wrote:I'm well aware of that, it's the sudden change of opinion I was commenting on.
Jim_UK wrote:No the farce of the street light problem affects the whole of Hertfordshire and was caused by Herts useless highways panel , this one is not down to the mayor of watford
Didn't Dotty and Co support turning the lights off until it proved unpopular? I know one of them suggested people should be in bed by 11pm.
popularity before principles, assuming there are principles.
analyst99
says...
3:18pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Fined if not parked in direction of travel
Fined if Transits or larger vehicles do not display parking lights on residential roads...
TRT
says...
3:37pm Wed 30 Jan 13
.co.uk/news/article-
2270680/Bankrupt-Fra
nces-latest-efforts-
save-money-turn-ligh
ts.html
I see the French are at it as well!
Mohandas
says...
4:13pm Wed 30 Jan 13
freebird23
says...
4:42pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Mohandas
says...
4:55pm Wed 30 Jan 13
freebird23 wrote:While they were a having a senior moment, I wonder if it crossed their minds to get their hands dirty? There was alot of the great and the good there and they could have easily have done quite a few whilst posing.
Never mind about illuminated signs, isnt about time the highways agency cleaned the numerous filthy road signs around this area some of them you cannot even read due to the muck on them.
Harry H Hornet
says...
9:33am Thu 31 Jan 13
TRT
says...
9:35am Thu 31 Jan 13
freebird23 wrote:I complained about several and received an automated response that the signs did not pose a danger and were therefore not going to be cleaned. OK, they were the 200 yard marker on westbound Stephenson Way which has been knocked over and the 100 yard marker which is so algae covered that it is invisible at night, but they still had to send someone out who could have cleaned it there and then!
Never mind about illuminated signs, isnt about time the highways agency cleaned the numerous filthy road signs around this area some of them you cannot even read due to the muck on them.
inayellowshirt says...
9:32am Wed 30 Jan 13