“No rules will have been broken since Highways have statutory powers and don't need planning permission or LBC. Reams of Council policy documents will have been ignored, though.”

“I know there are bigger problems in the world than ugly streetlamps, but next time i try and get anything passed for my listed property, i will be subjected to rules and scrutiny that have obviously been ignored here. One rule for them, another for us I suppose. Such a shame.”

“What a great start to the bright shiny future of B&NES 'visionary' Public Realm plans!
You're right Roger, it is down to the politicians to sort it out. Once again (as with the transport package) the enormous costs of consultations, studies and reports are being wasted simply because no-one at B&NES can be bothered to confer - or to put it more simply, do the job they have taken on. Having fabricated the 'vision' out of nothing practical or sustainable it's only right that they alone see it through. But the devil is in the detail and given the overall sketchiness of the Public Realm proposals and the next 20 years of associated developments I for one won't be putting my trust in their abilities.

Page 107 of the Public Realm and Movement Strategy for Bath City Centre, Consultation Draft, records: "Opportunities to review lighting proposals for particular streets and spaces within the city should be taken as pilot projects in order to demonstrate the positive effect that an innovative lighting scheme can achieve."

The spokesperson's approach is obviously one that compromises this principle; "...to comply with modern safety and security standards..." among other considerations. No doubt making a decision after studying manufacturers catalogues and choosing an off-the-shelf design that didn't cost too much either, B&NES Council have again summarily failed to listen to their own advice. How can it be trusted as an authority on the subject when, despite it's commitment to positive effects and innovation, u-turns in the face of the practicalities with installations "selected to minimise the impact on the street scene."?

I wish I knew what the alternatives were to this kind of incompetence, but as B&NES Council won't talk to Bath's citizens about their plans and how they will be implemented, we shouldn't be too surprised that neither will they talk to each other!”

“There will be just as much unhappiness within the Council about these streetlights. You can be fairly certain that the Highways Dept. will not have consulted any conservation, planning or urban design officers before doing the work. It's really down to the politicians to sort it out and put some structure in place to ensure that their traffic engineers don't carry on just doing their own thing and ignoring policies drawn up elsewhere in the Council.”

“I witnessed these lighting columns for the first time last Friday and could not believe my eyes. Despite all that is said by various bodies and the guidance for historic areas issued by English Heritage our council seems to totally unable to adhere to any of it. Just as elsewhere in the city recently, they simply go ahead and install the bog standard style of column that is used all over the country (no doubt because they are the cheapest). Why two columns are needed so close together at the junction of Wood Street and Quiet Street is a complete mystery as there is a perfectly good lantern attached to the property on the corner of Northumberland Buildings. Yet again it appears to show how little regard BANES has for the historic environment and how it is plainly obvious that they have no set policy for the city. This is also apparent by the total mish-mash of materials that have been used for kerbing and footways in the city centre.”

“In my experience, the councils take years to do things. Everytime you ask a question you get the same answer, "We plan to do it but have no date". On my way to work I pass Warmley. A few months back there were signs up asking people to comment on a consultation about fitting traffic lights on it. 2 moths on, that work has started. How did they collate all that info, come to a decision, get all the contracts in place and the money too in such a short time?? It was always planned to happen and the consultation was lip service. these guys that come up with these crappy ideas like this and the strret lights really need to get a grip on reality and stop wrecking the place. there are other lights that I get stuck in at 5 am, nothing elses on the road but me, at a red light. pathetic.”

“The problem is traffic engineers, who not only have their aesthetic sensibilities removed at birth but also have the statutory powers to do pretty much what they like, wherever they like, without consulting anyone. Apparently they also lack the ability to read the Council's own Streetscape manual which specifies that streetlights should be attached to buildings where possible and appropriate for their surroundings.

Apart from anything else, though, these lights are completely unnecessary. The street was not particularly badly lit, with plenty of ambient light. At a time when the Council is looking to save money on lighting the Highways Department has probably wasted far more in just one street.”