A MAJOR programme of improvements to York’s street lighting has left residents in Clifton in the dark when it comes to using their zebra crossing.

Those living near the row of shops in Burton Stone Lane say the area has been left “pitch black” after contractors, working for City of York Council, removed about five street lamps from the area.

Jack Rudland, who lives above the shops, said: “Last Monday and Wednesday some guys from the council came and removed the lamps.

“We have no light around the shops in Burton Stone Lane – it’s dangerous.

“There’s a zebra crossing and it’s pitch black. I phoned the council to ask what was going on and the guy who I spoke to said they had no idea about it.

“They have removed all the lamps from the area outside the Corner House pub down to the shops. There are about five or six which have gone. All that’s left are the stumps.”

The council revealed the work was part of a major programme of improvement of York’s aging street lighting, but said it could not say when the new street lamps would be put in place.

Ricky Watson, City of York Council’s street lighting engineer, said: “They are being upgraded throughout the city over the coming months.

“We don’t know at the moment when they will be replaced.”

The council said its street lighting contractor, Amey, is currently carrying out structural testing of all steel street light columns, and that the authority had been awarded additional funding this year for the replacement of some concrete street light columns.

City of York Council is responsible for 17,845 street lights and 1,749 illuminated signs and bollards in York.