BOLTON'S LED street lighting scheme has won a national award.

The council won the ‘street lighting’ category at the Association for Public Service Excellence awards.

Almost 26,000 street lamps on residential streets have been replaced with lower carbon LED lanterns by the council.

The carbon LED lanterns use less energy and last for longer.

Cllr Nick Peel said: “The LED lighting programme and the system we use to control it will help us to save thousands on our annual energy bills and reduce our carbon footprint.”

Bolton Council was also praised for its use of a centrally-controlled light management system which can remotely manage, monitor and vary light output. The system also uses technology which will allow the council to adapt future SMART technology.

The £10 million street lighting plan should save the council £14m over 20 years, and reduce energy use by around 50 per cent.

Figures show the council spends £2.1m on energy bills every year, and carbon dioxide emissions cost the council £100k annually.

The APSE Highways, Street Lighting and Winter Maintenance Innovation awards are held in Blackpool and are now in their second year.

Chief executive, Paul O’Brien, said: “To emerge as winners in such a competitive category is testament to the ingenuity and ambition of Bolton Council’s street lighting team.”

Residents can get more information about the LED programme online www.bolton.gov.uk/LEDlighting