- Change theme
Leeds MPs Criticise Smart Street Lighting
A group of politicians have criticised plans to spend £5 million on smart sensors for 86,000 newly-installed LED streetlights.
21:26 23 November 2018
Leeds City Council plans to spend around £5million on smart street lighting system has been critised by a group of politicians who described the project as “nothing more than a £5million dimmer switch.”
Liberal Democrat members of Leeds City Council said that it would be better if the money was invested on keeping street lights brightly lit during the night so citizen would fee safer.
Coun Carmel Harrison (Lib Dem), said: “This is a dim move and personally I am very angry that despite saving money with LEDs, Labour are going to spend £5 million of our money to have the ability to make every street darker whenever they want.”
“This is bad news for the elderly, women shift workers and public transport users. Burglars on the other hand will be rubbing their hands.”
However, Coun Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “With the improvements to LED technology this scheme now makes sense financially and offers a good investment for Leeds. If we had invested before now, we would be locked in to a worse, disadvantageous agreement that would be saving far less money for the city.