Resort in line for £6.5m street lighting upgrade

Blackpool Council Street in Blackpool lined with LED street lights and trees.Blackpool Council
Blackpool Council said swapping traditional street lights for LEDs would save £930,000 in its annual energy bill

A major street light upgrade programme will be good for the environment and save nearly £1m every year in energy bills, Blackpool Council has said.

The £6.85m investment will see 15,000 traditional street lights in the town being replaced by energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

LEDs should reduce the local authority's annual CO2 emissions by 660 tonnes and save £930,000 each year.

Blackpool Council said the move to "reduce carbon emissions and cut electricity consumption" would therefore essentially pay for itself within seven years.

'Net zero'

LED street lights offer directional downlighting and enhance visibility for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, the council said.

In 2019 Blackpool Council approved a climate emergency declaration, setting a target for zero carbon emissions by 2030 and 100% clean energy across the council's functions.

Councillor Jane Hugo, cabinet member for climate change, said: "This project will have a really positive impact on our journey towards net zero."

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