Residents in fight to save Victorian lamp-posts
HOMEOWNERS in a well-heeled historic street are furious that their Victorian lamp posts being ripped up – to be replaced by modern steel posts.
The lamps, which date back to 1888 and were even used as a backdrop in Doctor Who, are being pulled up to save money by council chiefs.
The cast iron structures are steeped in history and have stood on the tree-lined street for more than a century, since the days of gas lamps.
But families were shocked to open their curtains and discover the elegant posts being removed by the council.
The lamps were originally Victorian gas lights but had been adapted to electricity on Penarth’s Cwrt-y-Vil Road, which is listed as one of the 10 most expensive streets in Wales.
They featured in hit BBC Wales sci-fi show Doctor Who when the Tardis landed on the street in the Last of the Time Lords, which was David Tennant’s last story in the lead role.
But council officials say repairing the lights is not “practical or cost-effective” and are replacing the structures with modern galvanised steel posts.
Protest signs have now appeared on the posts saying: “Do not remove. Protest notice has been lodged.”
Gemma Crutchley, 36, of Penarth, said: “This will mean the loss of valuable historic character from the streetscape in Penarth.
“One of the things that makes our town so great is its historic character and the Victorian Street lights are a valuable contribution to this.”
Mum-of-one Jo Wilson, 37, of Penarth, said: “The council, understandably in this economic climate, can’t afford to maintain them so are installing cheap modern efficient alternatives, which is fine, but for some reason they are then spending more money removing the old ones.
“We are campaigning for them just leave them as objects of the past and if the economy improves in the future then we can do something about them then.”
The lamps sit in the Penarth Conservation Area to protect what was once a home to wealthy shipping magnates and captains.
A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: “There are electrical and structural safety issues with some of the older Victorian lamp posts and it would not be practicable or cost-effective to attempt repairs.
“Others will be converted to fit LED lights in line with the Council’s energy reduction strategy. This is better for the environment as LED lights produce less CO2, while they are also more economical to operate. It is difficult if not impossible to find lanterns and other parts for the old Victorian lamp posts generally found within the Penarth area.
“This means that the retention and refurbishment of the existing street lights is generally not an option.
“The use of standardised pastiche lighting columns is not considered acceptable for environmental reasons and would come at a high cost outside the available budgets for maintenance works.
“The lantern design on such lamp posts is also not compatible with a conversion to LED lighting.”