A GBP 9.8 million (US $14.09 million) project to replace all the streetlamps in Reading with energy efficient LEDs is due to start on Monday 4th April.

A total of 11,329 old lanterns will be replaced with the new units which cost about half as much to run. They also last longer which means less is spent on maintenance.

The scheme is being funded by GBP 6.86 million from the government's Highways Challenge Fund and GBP 2.94 million by Reading Borough Council. The project should pay for itself through reduced energy and maintenance costs over the next 20 years.

The two-year project, being delivered by Volker Highways, will also include the replacement of 2,533 street lighting columns which have reached the end of their useful lives, 2,578 sign lights with LED units and 890 illuminated bollards with solar powered bollards.

The council has already replaced hundreds of yellow/orange street lights with LED lighting across the borough as the old bulbs fail.

Cllr Tony Page, Reading's Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:

"This investment in new street lighting across the borough will provide immediate and long lasting benefits.

"The new lighting gives better vision in the evenings and therefore improves the feeling of safety for pedestrians. LED lighting also reduces power consumption, which in turn reduces the council's carbon footprint.

"Maintenance costs should also be halved because the new lamps have a considerably longer life span than the old lighting.

"They also produce less light pollution so we will be able to see more of the night-time sky as the orange glow from street lighting disappears over the next two years."