Development and Property Services

Roads and Transportation

ROAD LIGHTING REPLACEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

East Ayrshire Council currently has a stock of over 17500 lighting columns and illuminated signs. Many of these installations are now over 30 years old and have passed their useful operational life. To prevent these installations deteriorating to point where they become dangerous the Council currently concentrates its lighting column replacement programme replacing deteriorated lighting columns and unreliable cable networks rather lighting previously unlit areas or replacing street lighting in areas which are in acceptable electrical and structural condition but photometrically poor.

DESIGN AND INSTALLATION

All replacement lighting installations commissioned by East Ayrshire Council are designed to meet or exceed the requirements detailed in British Standard’s BS5489 ‘Road Lighting’ and BS7671 ‘Requirements for Electrical Installations’. In siting lighting columns the Council tries to minimise their visual intrusion on the surrounding area by siting lighting columns and control pillars at feu lines or at the ends of buildings. In some locations either due to the size of the adjacent building or the requirement of the British Standards this may not possible.
The Council also has statutory powers to attach lighting equipment directly on to private property, but these powers are generally only used if it is not practical to light the public highway by any other reasonable means. Where possible the Council will endeavour to come to an agreement with any resident complaining about the siting of lighting plant, but the safety of road users (both vehicle and pedestrian) and compliance with British Standards must take priority in determining the location of lighting plant.

LIGHTING IN NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

Installation of street in a new housing development is the responsibility of the Developer and not the Council. Where the Council has agreed to adopt the roads network the developer is required to install street lighting to a standard agreed with Council prior to the site being offered to the Council for adoption. The Council however cannot insist to installation of street lighting whilst the site is being developed if the Construct Consent has not expired.

Lighting in private unadopted roads is not the responsibility of the Council and owners must make their own arrangements to light the roads and footpaths.

INFORMATION FOR DEVELOPERS

Information on lighting design, installation and material specification for adoptable roads in East Ayrshire is contained in the 'Roads Development Guide' available from the Roads and Transportation Division.

To assist developers and suppliers, the Division provides a downloadable 'Approved Road Lighting Material List' available from our publications page.