Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council has secured a grant of nearly £9,000 to convert all its streetlights to LED.  We own and maintain 41 streetlights within the parish for the safety of pedestrians on highways and footpaths.  The cost of electricity and maintenance of these lights currently accounts for nearly 50% of the parish council’s entire annual budget.

Using funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, via Swale Borough Council, the grant is towards supporting activity that improves the environmental and financial sustainability of community amenities through carbon reduction measures.

Cllr Julien Speed, chairman of the Parish Council, comments:

"Conversion to LED will result in an estimated 80% reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions.  These new lights will be kinder to the environment and will reduce energy costs, which are ultimately funded by the local community via the parish precept levied on all householders.

“The new lights will also reduce light pollution, as the beam will be directed straight down to the footpaths as opposed to shining laterally.

"Lighting levels that are higher than necessary, and light that shines when and where it’s not needed, is wasteful - with economic and environmental consequences.

“Artificial light at night can negatively affect human health - increasing risks for depression, sleep disorders and other ailments.  So all lights will also be on a timer, meaning they’re only illuminated when needed. 

“This is a great cost and carbon saving for the community”.

It is understood that we are the first parish council to apply to the Rural England scheme for carbon reduction funding for streetlights.

Work to convert the streetlights to LED has already started.