A £10 MILLION roll-out of new energy efficient LED street lighting across Bolton will start next month.

Bolton Council said the environmentally friendly lights could save up to £700,000 a year and £14 million over 20 years — as well as reducing the authority’s energy use by half.

The brighter, white lights will replace 26,000 existing orange sodium bulbs across Bolton.

The new lights could also help with crime prevention, the council said, as they will improve the quality of CCTV images captured at night.

Work to upgrade the lights will begin in Bolton town centre and in Westhoughton on April 7 — before teams move into Tonge and Heaton in May.

This will be followed by work in Smithills in October and Blackrod in November.

The roll-out will continue around the borough once these areas are complete.

The new lighting will be controlled by a wireless central management system — which means specific lights can be dimmed or brightened at the request of residents or businesses.

The council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Cllr David Chadwick said: “This is a big investment which will save us money by reducing energy bills, maintenance costs and carbon taxes.

“The lights use less energy and last for longer. An LED light can last for up to 100,000 hours compared to a standard street light which lasts for around 15,000 hours.

“Switching to LED streetlights will improve visibility on our residential roads.

“They’re brighter and will keep the streets well lit and safe for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, reducing the chance of accidents and crime.”

Removing the existing older, orange lanterns and replacing them with the new LED lights will vary in each area depending on the number of lights and size of the area.

The council currently spends £2.1 million on energy bills each year, and carbon dioxide emissions cost the council £100,000 annually.

Bolton businesses have welcomed the potential benefits that the new lights could bring.

Owen Thomas, assistant manager of the Elephant and Castle pub in Bradshawgate, said: “I think it sounds good — we have had a few incidents linked to darkness in the street behind the pub.

“I am pleased to hear that the lights could help with CCTV images because there has been a couple of times where incidents have happened near to the pub and we have been unable to help because the CCTV images have been unclear — so I am fully behind this.”

Rebecca Yates, who manages the Beautyful hair and beauty salon in Market Street, Westhoughton, said: “Anything that can help with crime prevention is good for our business, there is not much trouble around here but if there is it will be easier to spot on CCTV.”

Westhoughton councillor Christopher Peacock said the plans would result in “considerable fewer broken street lights” in the town.

He added: "I'm pleased that the role out of these new lights is beginning in Westhoughton.

"I've already had residents telling me that they've seen similar lights in neighbouring towns and they are a lot better."

For more information on the project, visit bolton.gov.uk/LEDlighting