MORE than 1,300 streets in Bolton have been switched over to new energy-saving LED lighting.

Work is currently taking place to replace lighting in the town centre, Westhoughton, Tonge and Heaton — with teams recently moving into the Smithills area.

Rollout started in April and will continue around the borough once these areas are complete.

Around 5,750 street lights are now using the lower energy lighting and in total approximately 26,000 street lamps on residential streets and main roads are being replaced with lower carbon LED lanterns over the next three years.

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

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

Currently, the authority shells out £2.1 million on energy bills every year, and carbon dioxide emissions cost £100,000 annually.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for Environmental Services Cllr Nick Peel said: “We’re making good progress with our LED programme and we’re on target to finish in 2018.

“We have almost completed the switch over in a few of the areas we’re working in. Heaton’s almost finished and we’ve just moved into the Halliwell area in the town centre. The plan is to also start Blackrod and Horwich early next year.

“Switching over to LEDs will save money as we will see reduced energy bills, maintenance costs and carbon taxes.”

The council has also pointed out that the new LEDs are also brighter and will keep the streets well-lit and potentially safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers by reducing the chance of accidents and crime.

They can also improve the quality of images captured at night on CCTV.

The LED lighting is controlled by a wireless Central Management System allowing the lights to be monitored from a central point, which reduces inspection costs and makes it easier to repair faults — this system also enables lighting levels to be varied accordingly.

The recycling programme has already landed the council an award in a flagship industry competition, which recognised its work with Lumicom, a not-for-profit company which will be recycling the existing sodium street lanterns — with 75 per cent of these being recycled back into the environment.