Street lighting and illuminated traffic signs

As a result of the 1966 Local Government Act we, as highway authority, took on responsibility of road lighting throughout the county. This consisted of the lighting on most major routes and lighting in most of the urban conurbations such as Aylesbury, Buckingham, Beaconsfield, Chesham, High Wycombe, Marlow and eventually in 1974, the Borough of Milton Keynes until it gained Unitary Status in 1997.

There are some areas, which did not fit this pattern such as Burnham, Farnham Common, Farnham Royal, Iver, Lane End and Stokenchurch, where some of the lighting became road lighting and some remained as footway lighting with the relevant parish or town council acting as the local lighting authority.

Even within the urban conurbations quoted above there are footways, garage areas and industrial estates with systems of lighting that have not been adopted by the highway authority. Responsibility for this lighting falls with the relevant Local Lighting Authority, which may be the district, town or parish council.

All other other lighting within the highway we don't maintain is classed as footway lighting and is the responsibility of the local lighting authority, which once again may be the district, town or parish council.

Footway lighting is defined in the Highways Act 1980 but is not the subject of a British/European Standard.

All illuminated signs and bollards located on the highway within Buckinghamshire are maintained by us.

Strategy for the adoption of new street lights

Well designed and installed road lighting which is well maintained and correctly operated can play a substantial part in local authorities duties to its customers by improving road safety, reducing crime and the fear of crime, improving accessibility, improving commerce, enhancing the night scene and making sustainable non motorised transport more attractive and friendly.

We are determined that it will follow recommendations of the European Standard BSEN13201: 2003 Parts 2 to 4 and BS5489 2003 Part 1.

District, town and parish councils acting as local lighting authorities, determine their own strategies

Reporting faults

Light bulb shaped stickers are on all lamp columns we maintain, telling you who to contact should there be a fault with a street light.

This service has been provided as part of the Transport for Buckinghamshire facility, which aims to give an efficient and effective service to people in Buckinghamshire. If you see a faulty street light please report it by noting the number of the lamp column together with details of its location.

This service is not only limited to the reporting of faulty street lights. If you see a faulty illuminated traffic sign or illuminated bollard, once again please report it by noting the number of the assembly together with details of its location.

The costs associated with the replacement of equipment caused by accident damage and/or vandalism accounts for a significant amount of the available annual maintenance budget. To help reduce this expense the public are encouraged to report any relevant information to us via Transport for Buckinghamshire.