A Kemp Town resident has called for action to get the lights on the Black Rock boardwalk working by this winter.
Robert Brown raised the issue with Brighton and Hove City Council, asking why the lights between Duke’s Mound and Black Rock have been off for the past four years.
At a meeting of the full council on Thursday (1 October), he asked whether the council had paid UK Power Networks (UKPN) before the lighting was operational.
Labour councillor Trevor Muten, the council’s cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said that the council had been working with UK Power Networks but had found it is difficult to connect the lights with a power source.
Councillor Muten said: “The council has continued to work with UKPN while also exploring an alternative connection.
“Mindful of responsible use of public funds, UKPN has provided a revised quotation and officers have continued to work through this outstanding matter associated with delivering this connection.
“Our priority is to resolve this remaining issue and get the lights operational as soon as possible.”
He said that it would not be responsible to commit to a completion date.
When Mr Brown asked whether the lights would be on before Christmas completion or after the new year, Councillor Muten said: “We are looking for an alternative source to make sure this works quickly.
“I will press officers to go at pace with this. I recognise as we go into the darker months, darker evenings, we do need to get on and do this.
“I will take this away and put some pressure on to get these third parties to connect this and switch the lights on and we’ll get this done as soon as we can.”
My reading of the response is that officers are actively working with UK Power Networks and exploring an alternative connection. Utility connections can be complicated, so it is actually sensible not to promise a completion date before the arrangements are confirmed.
Hopefully the power company can step up and we can get this done asap.
There must be a way to channel all the hot air, excuses and filibustering from Hove Town Hall to power the lights.
It would probably be cheaper and easier to replace the existing lights with individually solar powered units. No wiring, no connection problems, no ongoing electricity costs.
In fact why wasn’t that done in the first place?
Why did these fools pay for lights to be installed using public money if they could not connect them in the first place????? Another great example of how the current administration ensures it spends public funds with “due dilligence”.
But its ok let’s close a few more libraries to plug the gaps!!!
And which libraries are closing? The lights will be connected. If you’re not happy with the elected administration, shut up and put yourself up for election. Thought not!
the libraries closed are westdene and hollingbury – they shut earlier this year. they also reduced opening hours at jubilee and hove libraries. google is free! but so is making yourself look like a fool i guess