Victory for residents after heritage-style lamppost is re-installed

Hartford residents are celebrating after winning a campaign to have an ornate lamppost reinstalled in their street.

Earlier this year it was decided that a lamppost in Church Lane would be removed after investigation from contractors Balfour Beatty, on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council, found that the lamp wasn’t designated as a ‘heritage’ post.

It came as part of county council scheme to save £170,000 a year by replacing costly columns and turning off street lights between 2-6am.

On January 31, the column was removed and replaced with a modern and more cost-effective lamppost.

But residents were unhappy and labelled the new modern post an “eyesore” that damaged the conservation area.

At the time letters were sent to local councillors and town council staff stating that “the ‘new’ modern lamp post adversely affects the street scene and is detrimental to the character of the conservation area.”

But following a plea and months of campaigning to Huntingdon Town Council, homeowners, living in the lane, have welcomed the installation of a replacement heritage-style lamp.

Resident Cindy Blem-Larsen told The Hunts Post: “It looks extremely handsome and we are thrilled to bits. What an improvement on the modern one. Worth the struggle to preserve the heritage feel of the area.

“I would like to warmly thank everyone who supported our cause and helped make this happen.”

The cost of replacing the modern lamppost – about £2,400 - was picked up by the town council – which will also now have to pay the cost of the running of the lamppost each year.