Street lights who pays for the shielding?

apaulo (Paul) · #1 30-11-2013, 06:01 PM

Hi everyone,

Has anybody had dealings with their local shire or power company regarding the shielding of street lights? Most of the neighbours in the street want the shield but the power company wants us to pay for it?

Is there any provision which places the onus on the shire or the power company to provide the shields?

Regards Paul

Kunama · #2 30-11-2013, 06:19 PM

They are very cautious about installing any shielding, tape, paint etc that will reflect, deflect or stop the spread of light for fear of being sued should someone fall R's up in the dark.

(having said that, at my last location I saw the sparkies changing the globes to downlights so I went up with some matt black paint and a nice attitude, problem solved.)

Stardrifter_WA · #3 30-11-2013, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apaulo

Hi everyone,

Has anybody had dealings with their local shire or power company regarding the shielding of street lights? Most of the neighbours in the street want the shield but the power company wants us to pay for it?

Is there any provision which places the onus on the shire or the power company to provide the shields?

Regards Paul

Hi Paul,

I had a similar problem with a street light and shading was refused by council, due to safety concerns, as Matt has correctly pointed out.

However, in my particular situation, all I wanted shaded was the back light, that posed no safety issues, as it still lit up the verge and road with no decrease in light.

As I was rejected out of hand I took the matter further, and to cut a very long story short, I went to my local politician and having argued my case, he agreed that it posed no risk and subsequently had the decision overturned. The street light was shaded, at no cost. Sweet!

The irony is that the light was destroyed a few months later when a car, driven by a drunk driver, failed to take the corner, as the light was located away from the actual intersection.

They replaced it, and forgot to shade it, so I had to contact my local member again and it was promptly resolved. I have been informed that if it is taken out again it will be moved to the corner where it won't be a problem for me. Drink anyone? It will surely be taken out by a drink driver again as the corner is a little deceptive.

As long as it doesn't actually affect lighting on the verge and road, it can be done. I also managed to have it done in another place I lived too, but on that occasion, they reversed it, as it did impact the lighting on the roadway.

Bottom line, it can be done, but it takes a lot of persuasion and tenacity.

el_draco (Rom) · #4 30-11-2013, 06:42 PM

Talk to the about light pollution and bad publicity... then get a slingshot

I DIDN'T SAY THAT!

AdrianF (Adrian) · #5 01-12-2013, 09:17 AM

We have a street light out the front of our place. It blew about 18 months ago. One neighbor wants it fixed several neighbors don't care I do t want it fixed as it will impact my view to the west. It's the only street light within 200-300 meters and I am happy not to have it fixed but if they do fix I will talk to them nicely about shielding

Adrian

WadeH (Wade) · #6 01-12-2013, 09:33 AM

And then you get the crazy situation we are in. We live on the cnr of a main road with a normal suburban road. Council put up their lights, main roads put up theirs, resulting in no less than 24 lights in less than 200m. All covering the same little patch of road. We have worked out that approx 8 lights would do everything that both bodies require. Massive duplication, if ony the utilities and gov bodies would talk to each other

torana68 (Roger) · #7 01-12-2013, 09:52 AM

realy dont understand the need to light up an area all night, no lights near me but no one falls over in the dark

crime deterrant maybe but they do the criminal thing in daylight as well , why light up roads to the point where you can drive at night with your lights off?

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #8 01-12-2013, 10:46 AM

A number of councils in the UK have started switching off street lights in the early hours to reduce energy consumption and cost and subsequently reported a reduction in break-ins

torana68 (Roger) · #9 01-12-2013, 10:48 AM

maybe the crooks started falling over in the dark?

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #10 01-12-2013, 10:50 AM

Nah, they would have sued

must be just plain scared

apaulo (Paul) · #11 04-12-2013, 08:29 AM

Thank you everyone for your help regarding this matter.
I rang the shire and they tell me there is a charge between $300~$400.
So I contacted the power company and they couldn't tell me if there was a charge or not? sound suss!!!!
I reckon a ladder and silver spray can will do the trick.
Paul.

apaulo (Paul) · #12 04-12-2013, 08:31 AM

There is some evidence out there given to me by mate from Vicpol stating that crime rate actually drop without street lighting go figure?
Paul

Blair · #13 04-12-2013, 09:23 AM

Not that I know.....ummm.... but some depending on type of bulb, a ruddy good shake of the pole makes the light go out until it cools down them comes on again. They don't like vibration for some reason.

Stardrifter_WA · #14 04-12-2013, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apaulo

There is some evidence out there given to me by mate from Vicpol stating that crime rate actually drop without street lighting go figure?
Paul

There is a town near an observatory in the US that began turning their lights off, to aid said observatory, and they had, apparently, an 80% drop in crime rate. Makes sense, thieves can't see where they are going and no one really wants to hang around in the dark. But, it isn't as simple as just turning lights off, because of law suits if someone gets hurt as a result. My suggestion, change the law and make people more responsible for their own actions. I lived in a dark area when growing up and I survived.

scagman (John) · #15 05-12-2013, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

There is a town near an observatory in the US that began turning their lights off, to aid said observatory, and they had, apparently, an 80% drop in crime rate. Makes sense, thieves can't see where they are going and no one really wants to hang around in the dark. But, it isn't as simple as just turning lights off, because of law suits if someone gets hurt as a result. My suggestion, change the law and make people more responsible for their own actions. I lived in a dark area when growing up and I survived.

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #16 05-12-2013, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

There is a town near an observatory in the US that began turning their lights off, to aid said observatory, and they had, apparently, an 80% drop in crime rate. Makes sense, thieves can't see where they are going and no one really wants to hang around in the dark. But, it isn't as simple as just turning lights off, because of law suits if someone gets hurt as a result. My suggestion, change the law and make people more responsible for their own actions. I lived in a dark area when growing up and I survived.

Very hard to sue yourself when your own torch fails.

ReaPerMan (Paul) · #17 06-12-2013, 04:51 PM

There is a street only 2 houses away from me and the council replaced the normal street light with a huge light that looks like a 5 liter paint tin. It gives out shedloads of light in all directions. I'm friendly with the lady on the corner directly under the light and asked her if she would be interested in having it shaded as it's <20 m from her bedroom window. She says that it makes her feel more secure!!! So I have buckly's chance of getting anything done about it.

Stardrifter_WA · #18 06-12-2013, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReaPerMan

There is a street only 2 houses away from me and the council replaced the normal street light with a huge light that looks like a 5 liter paint tin. It gives out shedloads of light in all directions. I'm friendly with the lady on the corner directly under the light and asked her if she would be interested in having it shaded as it's <20 m from her bedroom window. She says that it makes her feel more secure!!! So I have buckly's chance of getting anything done about it.

I have the same issue with the woman at the back leaving her outside light on. To get into here back yard anyway would require jumping a fence. What she fails to realise is that by leaving it on, any would-be burglar can see what he or she is doing. It is unlikely that someone will jump a fence into a dark back yard, and if they then use a torch makes it kind of obvious.

ReaPerMan (Paul) · #19 06-12-2013, 07:14 PM

My next door has a sensor light in the back that comes on if I get too close to the fence. all it does is light up the back garden. As there is a 20+ foot wall at the back of the Garden (mine is closer to 30 feet) there is no chance anyone is coming over the back without a rope ladder or rappelling down the wall! Unless the Crims have taken to parachute drops I don't think its providing any security at all.