Residents frustrated over street lights saga in Penmaenmawr

Jun 24 2010 by Rayyan Parry, North Wales Weekly News

FRUSTRATED residents have spoken out against street lights that have stayed on non-stop for seven years.

Street lights on Penmaenmawr’s Paradise Road are staying on for 24 hours a day, costing the tax payer.

Graham Roberts of Paradise Road said: “What a waste of electricity. It’s been on so long. They should send the lighting crew, it would take a couple of hours to work on it.”

“I’m paying for the electricity, so are the other people in Penmaenmawr. I hate to think how many thousands of pounds we’ve gone through. It’s disgusting.”

Local resident on Paradise Crescent, Geoff Greathead, 66, said the lights have been on for as long as he can remember.

“It’s not something that’s new. It’s been an ongoing thing for quite a while. It’s unbelievable. It’s a waste of money,” he said.

Town councillor and Paradise Resident Steve Banwell said: “There’s been some sort of issue with the connection.

“They’ve been on for six to seven years permanently. It’s driving me mad. I don’t know how much it’s costing the tax payer.”

“There's one organisation blaming the other. The town council have written to the council on behalf of the residents.”

A statement from Penmaenmawr Town Council said: “Penmaenmawr Town Council is aware of this problem and has been so for a number of years. As recent as a couple of weeks ago, the Town Council informed Conwy County Council of the problem, and I understand many councillors both town and county have informed Conwy Council over the past decade at various stages. It is also known that many residents have contacted Conwy Council regarding the problem. The cost of having them on day and night seven days per week is as far the Town Council is concerned borne by Conwy Council.”

Conwy councillor Ken Stevens said he’s working on getting the street lights replaced.

“There’s a problem with Manweb. It’s a long standing issue. I’m trying to get the street lights replaced, they’re past their sell-by date. It was going to be this year but now but now it’s next year.”

He added that problems with funding from the council due to the overspend on Maesdu bridge in Llandudno will mean a further one-year delay until the lights can be replaced.