Street Lighting Policy

Street Lighting and illuminated signs undergo service inspections as follows:

The Council will carry out Periodic Electrical Testing once every 6 years in accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and BS7671:2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations Guidance Note 3 Inspection & Testing.

Structural Testing is carried out in accordance with the Institution of Lighting Professionals Guidance Note 22, Asset-Management Toolkit: Minor Structures (ATOMS). A risk assessment is carried out based upon age, material, previous treatments, environmental location, traffic density and consequence of failure.

Electricity Supply Services

Distribution Network Operator (Northern Power Grid or Independent Distribution Operator)

Street Lighting and illuminated signs rely on electrical supplies from the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) or Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO). The local DNO is Northern Power Grid (NPG) who undertakes work in accordance with a Service Level Agreement with SBC.

Defects may occur affecting street lighting due to problems with the wider electrical supplies and as such these problems are outside the control of the Council to resolve. The electrical providers have to adhere to statutory performance targets determined by the electricity industry regulator, OFGEM (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) as part of their licence conditions which can be found on the ofgem website.

All illuminated signs that are not required to be lit under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2016 will gradually be de-illuminated by way of a risk based approach as part of ongoing reactive maintenance. Signs should be mounted on columns wherever possible but within the limitations imposed by the appropriate guidance.