Town council street lighting is about to go ‘LED green’

LLANELLI Town Council’s stock of street lighting is about to go green by converting from low pressure sodium light bulbs to new energy-efficient LED lighting.

Following a report brought to the council’s July meeting by deputy leader councillor John Jenkins, the move will see the authority spend less each year to convert to the new technology.

Mr Jenkins said: “The conversion is financed by a Welsh Government ‘Invest to Save’ loan and arranged by Carmarthenshire County Council, will cost taxpayers £2,328 a year for the first eight years, but the anticipated savings in electricity costs are estimated at £2,637 a year. This means that we’ll pay a little but save a lot for eight years and then after the eighth year all of the energy saving costs will benefit Llanelli ratepayers.

“It is also better for the environment from day one and also the new lights are of better quality and longer lasting than the old bulbs. It really is win-win all round.”

Carmarthenshire Council, which manages Llanelli Town Council’s stock of 134 street lights - separate to its own street lights will undertake the project.

“At the July meeting, Llanelli town councillors resolved to phase out single-use plastics in our facilities in addition to this long-overdue conversion to energy-efficient LED street lights, we are proud to lead the way as a progressive green-friendly town council here in Llanelli,” said Mr Jenkins.