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A city councillor is demanding answers after Lancashire County Council (LCC) said it did not have enough money to fix a broken streetlight in Grimsargh.
Cllr Steve Whittam, Preston City Council representative for Preston Rural East, said residents’ safety was being put at risk after the streetlight on Elston Green, Grimsargh, was completely removed some months ago due to safety concerns.
However, having pressed LCC for a response he did not receive the one he was hoping for.
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LCC told Cllr Whittam: “During recent structural surveys which are being routinely carried out on our older street lights, the streetlight in question was found to be structurally unsafe and at risk of failure and required urgent removal.
“We currently have a backlog of streetlights which have been removed for safety without sufficient funding to immediately replace them. Whilst it is expected the streetlight will be replaced in the coming financial year when funding becomes available, we cannot be certain on the timescale for the streetlight’s replacement.
“Streetlights will be replaced on a priority basis, where more than one adjacent streetlight has been removed, a replacement will be prioritised.”
However, Cllr Whittam called on the council to reflect on its response.
He said: “As this light had been out for some time during the winter months, and from your response is likely to be so for some time to come, I don’t consider it acceptable that residents’ safety, particularly during the darker months, is compromised because LCC make an arbitrary decision on priorities.
“I would respectfully ask that you reconsider your position on this issue.”
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