If you need to report something that is causing an immediate danger or is an emergency please call 0300 1234 222.
Report a problem with one of the following;
- streetlight
- illuminated sign
- set of permanent traffic signals
- other electrical highway infrastructure
Please remember to include the town, street and the reference number, where possible:
- For streetlights and illuminated signs, the reference numbers usually consist of one letter and three numbers, for example A100. The number will be yellow on a black background found on the column, wall bracket or plexo box.
- Reference numbers for vehicle activated signs (VAS) and variable message signs (VMS) will be a black sticker with yellow text on the supporting post, for example VMS101.
Some streetlights are switched off part of the night
Some of our street lights are switched off for part of the night, usually between the hours of midnight and 5am. This will reduce light pollution and help meet the Council's ambition to become Carbon Neutral by 2030.
Streetlights that are turned off part of the night are shown as pink dots on the interactive map below. Before reporting a light not working overnight, please check on the map below to see if its in an area where lights should be off part of the night. You can zoom in to an area that shows pink dots to check which lights in the area will be off part of the night.
If the streetlight you wish to report is not showing on the map as a pink dot, then it should be on all night. Please scroll down to report a streetlight not working.
Report an issue with a highways electrical item
Timescale for repairs
We pass all reports of faulty equipment received before 4pm to our repair contractor on the same working day.
Upon receiving the fault, our contractor has:
- 5 calendar days to repair a normal streetlight or illuminated sign fault
- 12 hours to repair a normal traffic signal or electronic sign (VAS/VMS/RTPI) fault. 12 hours from when contractor receives the fault, for example 8am the next working day if received after 4pm
- To attend on site within 2 hours for emergency repairs, such as exposed wiring, column knockdown, traffic signal power failure
- To attend on site within 24 hours where there is a greater risk of danger, but it is not an emergency. For example, streetlights on pedestrian crossings, busy road junctions or flights of steps
We work with Western Power Distribution (WPD) to rectify any underground defects. Underground cable faults may take longer to locate and repair.
WPD aim to repair:
- defects of three streetlights or more with 20 working days.
- Single street lighting faults they will look to repair within 25 working days.
Sometimes the repair requires the electricity to be switched off to neighbouring properties. If this is the case, you will be contacted 7 days beforehand. For commercial customers this is 14 days.
Street lighting operational policy
In 2009 we introduced a lighting system which allows us to dim streetlights at specific times. This is risk based on the road category and is currently in operation.
In July 2022 we began an LED upgrade project which allow ultra-dimming and switch-off of lights.
To help reduce light pollution some of our lights are turned off part of the night, usually between midnight and 5am. This will help meet the Council's ambition to become Carbon Neutral by 2030. It will also reduce light pollution. For the benefits of reduced light pollution, please see Light Pollution - Buglife.
Street Lighting Operational Policy (January 2023)
