Why do we need street lighting?
Whilst there is no statutory duty to provide street lighting, it is important as it gives pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicle users more confidence and a greater sense of personal safety when using highways, cycle tracks, footpaths and safe routes to school after dark.
It is well documented that good public lighting can reduce night-time accidents by 30% and a recent Home Office Research Study has shown that crime can be reduced by up to 30% in areas where improved lighting has been installed.
Street lighting routine maintenance
There are approximately 18,000 street lights and 2,500 illuminated traffic signs or bollards within the Borough.
A rolling programme of maintenance is in place. Each lighting column is visited every 18 months to carry out one of three maintenance operations. These are:
- Lamp bulk change
- Clean and inspection
- Electrical test
In addition to this approximately 800 street lighting columns are painted and more than 700 street lighting columns are structurally tested each year. On average, 9,000 faults to street lights are repaired each year.
The maintenance programme outlined above allows us to keep all the street lights within the Borough in good condition.
In order to keep the lights working, a Street Lighting Night Inspector patrols the Borough each night. Lights that are found to be not working or have other faults are reported and repairs carried out as necessary.
The Night Inspector takes approximately 11 working nights to cover the whole Borough where the cycle then begins again.
In conservation areas, and areas of architectural interest, ornate street lighting is used to enhance and compliment the area and help in providing a more pleasing environment.
Frequently asked questions
What is an emergency?
If a street light is damaged it may be dangerous, especially if the wiring at the base of the lighting column can be seen.
You should not attempt to cover up or touch the wires as you could seriously injury or electrocute yourself.
Call us immediately so that we can make it safe. If necessary please warn children to stay away from the danger.
During office hours please use the contact details provided at the end of this page.
Outside office hours telephone Emergency Services on 0161 253 6606.
You can also use these numbers to report damaged traffic signs and illuminated bollards that are dangerous and need attention.
What do I do if I notice a light isn't working?
You can help us to keep the street lights working by contacting Customer Contact Team as soon as there is a problem. If you phone during office hours one of our Customer Contact Assistants will answer your call and take the details from you. If you call outside office hours you can leave the information on an answerphone.
During office hours please use the contact details provided.
Outside office hours you can call Emergency Services on 0161 253 6606
What information do I need to supply?
To help us find and repair the street light as quickly as possible we need you to provide us with as much information as you can, including: following:
- the name of the road or street that the light is in;
- the district within Bury that the road is in;
- the number on the lighting column (the number on the lighting column is usually on the road side but if you don't know the number please tell us the nearest property or house number);
- What the fault is.
How to contact us
To report a problem with street lighting please contact the Customer Contact Team.
Phone: 0161 253 5353
Out-of-hours emergency phone: 0161 253 6606
E-mail: customercontactteam@bury.gov.uk
On-line: Report a problem
Write or call in: Highway Network Services, Lester House, 21 Broad Street, Bury, BL9 0AW
