Residents take dim view of eco-friendly street lights

A TOWN’S newly installed eco-friendly street lights are so bright that residents have complained it feels like living next to Wembley Stadium, a council has been told.

Swindon borough council is replacing 28,000 lights with new LED ones as part of a £6.9million scheme aimed at improving the environment.

But residents say brightness from the lamps is leaving them unable to sleep, with one woman describing them as “like living next to Wembley Stadium”.

Council officials have said they are unable to dim the new lights until it receives the software needed to alter the brightness.

Helena Bowie, who lives with her husband John, said that their lives had been an “absolute nightmare” since street lights were replaced last month.

She said: “They are so bright. They’ve got four huge floodlights, and we have three just outside on the roundabout.

“We’re right in the middle of all of it. It’s like living next to Wembley Stadium.

“I’m not against the LED bulbs because of what they’re for, they’re there to be better for the environment,” she said.

“But they’re just too bright. There’s just no shade from them.”

Another woman, Hilary Care, wrote on an online community forum: “We’ve had them fitted and it’s like daylight shining in all the time.

“First time I noticed it had been changed I thought someone had parked up opposite the house and left their lights on full beam. I hate them.”

The council said it would dim the newly installed LED street lights as soon as possible.

A spokesman said: “Upgrading Swindon’s 28,000 street lights to LED lanterns is a huge programme of work, which will take about 18 months to complete.

“Once installed the new lights will consume less energy, reduce light pollution and will save the council hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

“Unfortunately, the new lanterns cannot be dimmed as soon as they are installed because this needs to be applied via special software.

“We would like to reassure residents that we are working with the contractor to implement the dimming function as quickly as possible.”