Tree lighting returns to Preston's main shopping street
Funding has been agreed, for the lights on Fishergate
Preston’s main shopping street will once again see its trees lit up, after final funding was approved to replace a display, which went dark after developing a series of faults.
The £234k project, which has been given the go-ahead by Preston City Council’s cabinet, will see new lighting installed in the 56 trees that line Fishergate and the southern section of Corporation Street.
They were planted as part of the ‘shared space’ scheme that transformed the main thoroughfare, by widening its pavements and and restricting vehicular access to buses and taxis, back in 2014/15. Prior to that, Fishergate and Corporation Street were a tree-free zone. The lights were introduced shortly after the revamp was completed.
A spokesperson for the authority told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that their reinstatement “will help create an attractive, welcoming environment, support community safety and showcase the city at its best”.
According to a report, presented to cabinet members, the lighting arrangement acts as an additional public protection measure, during the evening and overnight.
The document states that the lights had to be disconnected due to “several faults”, while the infrastructure supporting it had “deteriorated, due to lack of maintenance”.
During a feasibility study, undertaken last year, it was discovered that the existing electrics from the previous installation was “faulty, not up to current regulation and needed several upgrades, before the lights could be replaced”. After a subsequent testing survey, plans were drawn up to create “a fully maintainable system”.
The city council had already allocated £83k to the new scheme, from its share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a government replacement for former European Union funding, along with an £82k capital contribution from the town hall coffers, agreed when the authority set its budget back in March.
Just over £6,000 from the shared prosperity pot was spent on the testing work, leaving a balance to be found for the overall project of almost £75k, which the cabinet agreed to add to the authority’s capital programme, at a meeting earlier this week.
The cost estimate for the lighting installation is £114k, with £95k needed for the infrastructure upgrade and a £25k contingency fund also being created.