"Historic Vandalism" as Tory PFI bungle means Victorian Lamp posts to be ripped out across Hampshire "

9.15.05pm GMT Mon 30th Nov 2009

Hampshire County Council Liberal Democrats have slammed Tory Cabinet plans to rip out and replace Victorian Lamp posts across Hampshire as part of the County Council's multi-million Private Finance Initiative.

The £225 million PFI deal which will replace 55% of lamp posts across Hampshire over the next 5 years will also see Victorian lamp posts replaced with garish modern steel unless additional funds can be found for " heritage style" replacements.

A total of 75,000 lighting columns will be replaced in the Hampshire County Council area.

Hampshire Liberal Democrats have argued that sodium street lights should be upgraded to energy efficient LED or fluorescent lamps, run on renewable energy, fitted with dimmers to cut carbon and down lighters to reduce light pollution. They are also campaigning to save Hampshire's Victorian and Edwardian street lamps in Hampshire villages, market towns and conservation areas.

Hampshire's Liberal Democrat Leader Keith House said

"Hampshire's heritage is being abandoned by the Conservatives. Garish modern lights may be right for motorways but don't suit many of our villages or older communities.

Adam Carew - Lib Dem Shadow Environment spokesperson said

"This is historic vandalism ! County have just signed the biggest street lighting PFI in the UK history yet the Conservative run County Council have made no provision to protect our Victorian and Edwardian Street Lights.

Thanks to Tory bungling Hampshire's historic street lamps will be ripped out and replaced with modern steel unless extra funding can be found for so called " heritage style" street lights in towns and conservation areas. Only individually listed street lamps will be saved. Hampshire's Civic and Historical Societies will be up in arms.

Unless we can get County to think again our advice is for local communities to get their historic lamps

listed as soon as possible.

Our Victorian and Edwardian Street lamps are a valued part of Hampshire's heritage and they must be protected."