Faulty lights blitz

The freephone hotline number - 0800 9151512 - has been unveiled by City of York Council, which has introduced improvements to its street lighting service in

preparation for winter nights and the end of British Summer Time tonight.

Extra staff have been brought in, doubling those working on night scouting and checking all street lights, traffic signs and bollards for correct operation.

The new arrangements mean that each lighting unit will now be checked every two weeks. Where possible necessary repairs will be carried out at the time a fault is detected to ensure a quick and efficient service.

The freephone number for reporting lighting faults is operational for members of the public to ring 24 hours a day. Every street light within the City of York Council boundary will carry a sticker giving details of the free-phone number.

Each fault received is aimed to be repaired within 48

hours of receipt of the call.

Peter Evely, the council's head of highway regulation, said: "We have implemented these measures with the ultimate aim of achieving 100 per cent of the lights working 100 per cent of the time.

"With the help of residents of York reporting lighting faults, we believe we can go a long way to achieving this."

Councillor Dave Merrett, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said: "I am delighted that we are able to launch this service this month.

"The new inspection and repairs regime and the free-phone number are part of a series of measures we have taken to improve street lighting in the city over the last year following our decision to make street lighting one of our first Best Value review areas.

"This is another example where our commitment to the Best Value process is paying practical dividends for people in the city."

The council's street lighting operation is currently contracted to Amey Highways.

Updated: 11:11 Saturday, October 27, 2001