Oh dear more money wasted ....

[Danny]

Bad news today, aurora (Balfour Beatty) that work in partnership with Sunderland council have announced that they are to start an "invest to save" programme this means that all their street lighting stock is to go LED. This is baring in mind that 8 years ago they completed their PFI which seen everything go mag gear SON iridiums. With most of the lanterns barely 7-10 years old, they're all to come out and be replaced with LED ALL 48,000 iridiums that are probably lucky if they're on their second lamp. What a absolute utter load of bull shit and waste of money and lanterns. Absolutely disgusted.
http://www.auroraltd.com/LEDFAQ.aspx

[Slyspark]

About right these days. Surprised they lasted that long. People seem to have a thing for throwing away perfectly decent, fully serviceable stuff in the name of saving the planet. No one seems to consider the massive pile of waste produced in the process.

[AngryHorse]

I just LOVE this bit!

Why LED lighting?
"LED lighting has a much longer lifespan, requires a lot less maintenance and it is extremely energy efficient returning at least a 50% saving over our existing sodium lights. "

Some one on here needs to `hack` their site and tell the truth!

[HIDLamp]

The word 'brainwashed' has come to mind

[Slyspark]

the words 'utter bollocks' spring to mind!

[amtrakuk]

Its a disposable eara... I think our Mini Iridium/Cosmos and Iridium/SON are similar age (< 10 years). More and more are being replaced by LED with Energy saving and reduced maintenance being the logic. I can kind of agree on the Energy saving as LCC can't afford to to keep a lot of the lamps lit between midnight and 5am.

I was chatting to Leeds UTC and we were joking about the fact the council has spent all the money on street lighting with none available for the Traffic Control PFI hence having cheap and cheerful PEEK kit. Some of the signals and controllers are about 30 years old and UTC have been told there is no money to replace whilst they are still working. Only to be upgraded if it is killed in a RTA.

[Gabes]

Since I live in the Sunderland area, I'll try to save some Iridiums, I just think it's sad to see something as good as the Iridiums to go after such a short time

[Danny]

Ots an absolute outrage!!!!

[Arrowslim]

They have started replacing SOX here with ridiculous glare bomb LED shit. granted the colour is better, but the glare is proper crap

[XmasLightGuy]

got a little surprise on the weekend when driving by a spot where they are widening the road:
new streetlights + poles.....and they are SON