Residents still waiting on street light repairs
Residents are still waiting for much needed street light repairs - Credit: Archant
STREETLIGHT replacement work which still hasn’t been finished after six months is “a bitter pill to swallow” according to a councillor.
In February the Crow reported on the problems caused by the work in Melbourn, which is being carried out by Balfour Beatty on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.
Villagers complained of blocked pavements, exposed cables, and paths which were difficult to navigate for those with wheelchairs or buggies.
The scheme, which started in December, was due to be completed over a period of six-eight weeks, but Cllr Jose Hales, the village’s district councillor and a member of Melbourn Parish Council, said: “The work is still going on and we have just had a load of new holes dug in Cambridge Road. It was meant to be done in two months and now it has been going on for six.
“We’ve been trying to work with Balfour Beatty but I’ve been very disappointed with them. When I look at other villages and see that the work there has been finished after five or six weeks, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
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Cllr Hales and Melbourn’s county councillor, Susan van de Ven, have been holding talks with Cambridgeshire County Council in a bid to resolve the problems.
“We’re also having issues with the glare being caused into people’s homes by these new streetlights,” said Cllr Van de Ven.
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“We need to get this right now because these lights are designed to last for 25 years.
“Residents have been very vociferous when there has been a problem, which has helped our cause.”
A spokesman for Balfour Beatty said: “There are minor works under way in Melbourn to adjust the power supply to a small number of streetlight installations.
“We are currently waiting for the District Network Operator (DNO) to advise us on a date for completion of the works. The DNO are evaluating the safety measures involved to make sure the task is appropriately risk assessed.”
? Have you been affected by the streetlight work in Melbourn? Email postbag@royston-crow.co.uk
