TranslateOur Lighting Service aims to:
- assist in the safe movement of traffic and reduction of nighttime accidents by providing appropriate lighting on roads within the built environment and urban centres
- contribute to the commercial and social use of town centres, amenities and tourist activities by improving the nighttime appearance and accessibility
- assist in reducing the fear of crime and aid visual recognition on public roads through use of white spectrum Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
- protect and Enhance the built environment by providing an efficient and effective lighting service for those roads and footpaths that have lighting installations
- safeguard and enhance our nighttime environment by reducing light pollution, obtrusive light and carbon emissions through ensuring that only the road area is illuminated by using more controlled, low carbon, long-life LED lighting that doesn’t spill light into private areas
Design standards
The ‘Design of road lighting, Part 1: Lighting of roads and public amenity areas - Code of practice BS 5489-1:2020’, issued under the provisions of the ‘Roads (Scotland) Act 1984’, defines the maximum and minimum illumination levels for different road classifications, environmental locations and uses.
The Scottish Government’s ‘Guidance to Accompany the Statutory Nuisance Provisions of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008’ assists in applying the provisions of the ‘Environmental Protection Act 1990’ introduced in the 2008 Act. This defines the requirement for lighting installations to be directed and controlled to reduce light pollution and to help meet the Government’s targets for reduction of carbon emissions detailed under the ‘Climate Change Act 2008’.
Maintenance standards
The ‘Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice’ document issued by the UK Roads Liaison Group provides a framework of recommendations by which road lighting maintenance policies can be developed in support of the provisions of the ‘Roads (Scotland) Act 1984’. The ‘Guidance Document for Road Safety Inspections and Defect Categorisation’, issued in response to this defines the local maximum response times when lighting defects are reported to the Council. These are as follows.
Category 1 defect
Example of type of defect:
- doors off
- exposed cable
- hanging lantern and/or shade
- section of four, or more, consecutive lights
- insecure, leaning column
- damaged lighting column in danger of collapse
Timescale for response
4 hours, if it is not possible to correct the defect at the time of inspection, the unit(s) will be made safe and warning signs erected with coning as required, to provide public safety.
Category 2 defect
Example of type of defect:
- up to three consecutive dark lights
- cable fault repairs requiring ground excavation affecting four units, or more
- faulty or missing lantern/shade replacement
- intermittent/flashing fault
Timescale for response
7 days, if it is not possible to repair the unit at first visit a further seven day response extension will apply.
Scottish Power is the major Network Operator in North Ayrshire mainland. They will provide programming updates on request to those affected by any supply faults to street lighting that they have been notified of by North Ayrshire Council. Members of the public can be provided with a job reference number by the council for any Scottish Power fault.
Category 3 defect
Example of type of defect:
- single unit column replacement (damaged, irreparable, cut down)
- secure but leaning column
- cable fault requiring ground excavation affecting three units, or less
- removal of old column after disconnection from electricity supply
Timescale for response
30 days, will be inspected within seven working days for assessment and inclusion in the next available works programme within thirty working days.
Category 4 defect
Example of type of defect:
- lighting obscured by vegetation not causing high traffic risk
- unauthorised signage removal not causing obstruction
Timescale for response
Within next available works programme subject to statutory notices.