Plan to upgrade 8,000 street lights to efficient LEDs

THOUSANDS of street lights could be replaced in an effort to save money at a cash-strapped council.

Gwynedd has more than 18,000 street lights, with 10,200 already switched to LED, which are cheaper and greener to operate.

But in a bid to upgrade the remaining 7,778 which still use the older technology, Gwynedd’s cabinet has agreed to ask Cardiff Bay to fund the estimated £1.4m cost via its Green Growth scheme.

It could save Gwynedd Council £185,000 a year in electricity bills.

The report, that’s been approved by the cabinet, notes: “10,279 street lights have been changed to LED technology, ensuring a reduction in carbon emissions of 414 tonnes CO2, light pollution and achieving £260,000 per annum savings in energy costs for the council.

“On completing the scheme, a further carbon emission reduction of 572 tonnes CO2 is expected, also achieving a £185,000 per annum saving in terms of energy costs for the council.”

LED lights have an expected lifespan of 20 years compared to two to five years for the current ones.

Reliability of LED lanterns has improved greatly over recent years, producing a clearer white light and lower carbon emissions than the current lanterns.

Despite this, the council would be obliged to pay back the Welsh Government’s investment, interest free, over a period of seven-and-ahalf years.

Proposing the recommendation, cabinet member Cllr Gareth Griffith, said: “This is an invest-to-save measure and the loan would be on an interest-free basis.

“The report is quite comprehensive and easy to understand, and I ask that the cabinet approves the report so that we can move forward.”

If approved, the council expects the scheme to have been completed by March 2022.