Highways bosses apologise over dark streets saga

A protest march took place in north Lowestoft to raise concerns about street lights not working on the A47

National Highways has ''sincerely apologised'' to people over delays in fixing and upgrading street lights on a town's main road.

A group of protesters took to the streets to raise safety fears over darkness along a stretch of the A47 in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Campaigners said some of the lights had not worked for more than two years and called for urgent action before an accident happened.

National Highways, which looks after motorways and A roads in England, said it appreciated the community's patience and said work to fix the lights would start in June.

Campaigners say parts of north Lowestoft are not lit at night because many street lights are not working

The "Lighten Our Darkness" protest march, involving about a dozen people, was held on the evening of 17 March, between the Triangle Market area and Hollingsworth Road.

Organiser Wendy Brooks said: ''People are fed up with living in darkness and all we want is the lights to be fixed.

"It's the main road through Lowestoft and there are houses on both sides; we have people who go out very early in the morning with their dogs and they just can't see - it is dangerous.''

''If you are on a bicycle, like I am frequently, I can't see anything so I just have to keep my fingers crossed and take my life in my hands.''.

The group said the broken street lights on the A47 "pose imminent danger to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists"

In January 2023, National Highways said it was aware of problems in the area with street lighting and it was sourcing LED lights to replace older, sodium lanterns that it said were no longer being manufactured.

It said there was a "specific issue" with a feeder pillar on Jubilee Way that powers the lights.

A spokesperson said: "Over the past 12-14 months, we have successfully upgraded 114 streetlights to energy-efficient LED technology, along with implementing lantern works as part of the national carbon saving scheme and renewing numerous sign lights.

"We understand there has been a delay in resolving this issue; we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate the community's patience and understanding as we work towards a resolution."