Man hits out at street lighting fault in Earnock

Feb 11 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

STREET lighting left to burn 24 hours a day for the past 16 days in Earnock has sparked a furious reaction from a resident.

David Bisset hit out after lamps in Sidlaw Avenue, Corrie Court and Luss Brae have been burning around the clock for more than two weeks.

Mr Bisset, of Sidlaw Avenue, has been kept in the dark about an explanation to the problem after reporting the fault to South Lanarkshire Council’s lighting department last month.

In a letter to the Advertiser, Mr Bisset fumed: “Recent articles in the Advertiser have urged members of the public to conserve energy, yet South Lanarkshire Council appear to be ignoring this plea by allowing street lighting in Sidlaw Avenue, Corrie Court and Luss Brae to burn 24 hours per day for the last 16 days to date.

“I have reported this fact to the council’s Lighting Department on two occasions in an attempt to find out why this was being allowed to happen.

“The manager concerned was at a meeting.”

Mr Bissett later managed to speak to a council engineer and he blamed the problem on Scottish Power.

And Mr Bissett continued: “I invite the two bodies concerned to give their explanation through your columns on how this ridiculous situation is being allowed to drag on and explain when it is going to be resolved.

“I trust that should Scottish Power be found at fault, can we the tax payers be assured that we will not have to foot the bill for the excess energy consumed?”

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “This is a matter for Scottish Power and we have reported it to them.”

Yesterday (Wednesday) a Scottish Power spokeswoman said: “Our engineers are working onthe problem and will have itfixed.

“It was burning 24 hours because there was a fault in the system that wasn’t being picked up because the excessive cold weather may have nicked a cable.

“The lights will be put back on a timer clock and the situation will be monitored to make sure it is working properly.”