Street lighting confirmed for Goldhurst/Aberdare by October

We have long been aware about residents concerns on the quality of street lighting, especially in light of your concerns on crime. We surveyed residents on this in November and many thanks for all the responses sent in.

As a result of this, as ward councillors we have been working on this with senior council officers to get this moved up the list of priorities. Progress has not been as quick as we had hoped; there is a simple reason for this. There have been years of underinvestment in Camden's lighting and maintenance has been skipped. In the recent past Camden has had to concentrate on a major survey and to replace the lamposts most at risk; that explains incidentally why there are stumps next to lamp posts.This work is now coming to an end.

Camden's officers recently concluded their budgets for the 2009/2010 financial year - and Cllr Andrew Marshall voted for this just last week. As a result firm funding has been allocated to renew all the lights in Acol Road. We can confirm that these will be with white light. This gives improved facial and colour rendition as well as better and more energy efficient lighting. As a result of all this (and we should not forget the role of the Safer Neighbourhood Team here), Camden officers have also moved Goldhurst Terrace and Aberdare Gardens up the list of priorities, with work to start in the coming months.

We should add that there seem to have been some crossed wires and it has been suggested that work will begin in May. While this is possible and obviously would be great news, we would regard this timing as unlikely at this stage. It would be realistic to think about the work finishing by the time the clocks go back in October. These lights will also be white lights.

All three of us were delighted to meet so many of you at last Monday's Safer Neighbourhoods meeting, the best attended ever. We hope you found it worthwhile.

Stop press - Local Crime Prevention Meeting: Just to remind residents of the meeting to be held on Thursday March 5th by the Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhood Team. This focus will be on crime prevention techniques with a special emphasis on the Gardens area and will include a presentation by the Crime Prevention Officer for the area. It will be at the Swiss Cottage Community Centre from 7.30 to 9pm.

Please also note that the venue for the Local Area Forum meeting on Tuesday March 10 has had to be changed from the Crossfield Centre to the Swiss Cottage Library. Start time is the same 6.30 for 7pm. We hope to see as many of you as possible there. A reminder that the principal topic will be the incoming new recycling and waste collection arrangements.