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Wednesday 19th May 2004 |
205/2004 |
A £45,000 council scheme to make a housing estate safer by improving street lights has proved to be a winner with the community.
Residents of Leigh’s Trees Estate have given the project the official thumbs up after 176 new lights were brought in.
Two years ago only a third of residents were satisfied with street lighting on the Trees. Now, 85 per cent have responded favourably to a satisfaction survey about the changes.
Street Scene and Lighting Manager Keith Benson has been studying the survey. He said:
“We’ve worked hard to get this right for the people of the Trees Estate and are delighted there’s been such a positive welcome.
“Overwhelmingly, residents wanted us to fit new white ‘daylight’ lamps. These make it easier to distinguish clothing and vehicle colours and allows for good facial recognition. More than 80 per cent of residents have told us installing these lights has been a worthwhile use of council funds, and has made them feel more secure on the street.”
The £45,000 project was a partnership between the council’s Community Protection and Street Lighting teams. In January, engineers replaced 176 lights. A similar scheme is planned for Worsley Hall. Both projects are part of the council’s long-term aim of improving outdated street lights across the borough.
Keith Swindell, Trees Estate Co-ordinator for the council’s Community Protection Department, said:
“Home Office reports show that investing in high quality lighting can cut crime by up to 30 per cent. Crime and fear of crime are big issues on the estate, and the new lighting is proving effective in making the area feel safer for all the community.”
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