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New Lighting Scheme Increases Safety Along Path

10/11/2009

 

A brand new lighting scheme is making an evening riverside walk in Barnard Castle a safer and more enjoyable experience for all. 

The installation of this new lighting has been brought about by Barnard Castle Vision and Barnard Castle Town Council in partnership with English Heritage and Durham County Council and is part of a wider scheme to improve the lighting for the Castle and its surrounds during evening hours. 

The new lights, which were erected earlier this month by Durham County Council’s Technical Services, follow the removal of an aged set of lampposts around the edge of the castle, illuminating the pedestrian footpath which runs along the riverbank from Scar Top to County Bridge beneath. 

In the place of the original lighting system, a much improved series of lamps now guides walkers along the way, with new white lighting and an extra street light half way along the footpath providing much greater visibility along the stretch. 

The lampposts along the footpath have been sensitively chosen to match the existing modern heritage-style lampposts along the rest of the main street. Unlike the originals, the new lights are more energy efficient and cost effective, and can also be winched down for repair, in keeping with the latest health and safety regulations.  

“We are delighted that the new pedestrian lights have now been installed,” comments Barnard Castle Vision’s Chair, Deborah Jenkins. “It is fitting that such a well-used footpath should be properly lit and I have no doubt that the new system will provide far greater safety and security along the path at night. Together with the new Castle LED floodlights, which will also shortly be in place, this is a great success story for the town.” The Town Mayor, Councillor John Yarker, also echoes Deborah’s comments. 

Phase Two of the town’s lighting scheme is scheduled to take place early in the new year, when the Castle’s new floodlights, provided by Urbis, will be mounted on top of the new street lighting columns, replacing an aged ground-based lighting system which previously ran around the edge of the Castle. 

These new floodlights are highly energy-efficient and very low maintenance, with each light being made up of 36 number one watt LEDs and controllable in both direction and colour. They will be used to light the Castle during evening hours only, and in order to save electricity, will be turned off each night during the early hours. The footpath lights, however, will remain illuminated throughout all hours of darkness.