Despite receiving numerous criticism from residents, West Berkshire Council defended its multi-million pound LED streetlight replacement project.

About 50% of the district’s streetlights were replaced with LED lamps in the scheme, which is aimed at reducing the council’s energy consumption by half.

Residents, however, raised concerns noting the new lights can cause ill health, create dangerous driving conditions and lead to sporadic lighting along the district’s streets.

Criticism from residents include glare, affecting sleeping patterns, and inefficient lighting. In certain areas the lights were not bright enough.

The council has continued streetlight installations despite the complaints. The money-saving project in West Berkshire has replaced 4,226 streetlights with LEDs since July, in addition to the 2,285 streetlights that were already changed before the project started.

Crews are currently operating in the Thatcham, Newbury, Tilehurst and Calcot areas as part of the GBP 7.24 million (US $11.24 million) scheme, which is partly funded by a GBP 5 million grant from the central government.

The project will see a total of 10,000 non-LED lights installed over a one-year period, which will save the council an estimated GBP 4.87 million over the next 25 years and GBP 310,000 by 2017/18.