Following complaints from residents, particularly in Swanage, about new LED street lighting being too bright white, Dorset Council is now planning to install less dazzling lights in future, but it won’t be retrospective.
Despite many people having already made their views clear to councillors, complaining about the bright lights shining through their bedroom windows, Dorset Council is now undertaking a public consultation to ask residents whether they would like warm white LED street lights. Some people prefer brighter lights when walking home at night.
Some roads in Swanage like Russell Avenue still have the glowing orange sodium lights
Round the corner in Queen’s Road, the bright white 4,000K LED lights illuminate the facade of properties, as well as the road and pavement
Old sodium bulbs being replaced
As the change in policy will only apply to future installations of LED street lights, where the old energy inefficient sodium bulbs have not yet been replaced, this excludes most of Swanage.
The Dorset Council consultation, which runs until 4th May 2025, is also asking residents whether future new street lights should be dimmed at certain times.
The issue first arose in Swanage in 2022 when the orange-coloured sodium bulbs in street lights started to be replaced by energy efficient bright white LED bulbs, without any local consultation.
Dorset’s streetlights are provided under a 25 year private finance initiative (PFI) through a company called Enerveo. The contract is not due to expire until 2032.
The sodium lights were replaced with bright white 4,000K LEDs, which are very energy efficient. The LED bulbs can reduce energy consumption by up to 60 per cent. However at the time, little thought was given to the effect on wildlife or humans.
This led to complaints including those of Swanage resident Gavin Rider, who has campaigned vociferously about the issue.
In town, the more natural warm white lighting is contrasted by the cool white street light
Can’t fix the issue retrospectively
Now Dorset Council’s corporate director for highways, engineering and transport Jack Wiltshire speaking at the place and resources overview committee on Thursday 13th March 2025, conceded that it was recommended to fit the more subdued warm white 2,700K LED bulbs.
These are less energy efficient than the brighter LEDs, but better for the environment, creating less light pollution. They are still bright enough to comply with safety requirements.
The installation of the 4,000K LEDs by Enerveo appears to have been compliant with the Dorset Council street lighting policy at the time, so it can’t seem to force the company to fix the issue retrospectively.
However, the new policy will ‘empower’ town and parish councils to pay around £500 per lamp post to change the bright LEDs. It is unlikely that any local council will have the cash to do this.
According to Dorset Council, it has around 50,000 lamp posts, with around 20,000 already replaced with LED lights.
It expects that a further 6,000 over the Dorset Council area will be changed from sodium to LED over the next five years. The new policy will apply to those new installations.
The new rules will also try to make it clearer to residents whether they are in an environmentally sensitive area or not, in relation to lighting.
The bright lights of Swanage!
“Take the opportunity to have your say”
Dorset Council cabinet member for place services, councillor Jon Andrews said:
“We want people’s views on the potential changes.
“This feedback will help us shape a street lighting policy that not only enhances safety and reduces energy consumption but also respects our environment and the lives of local communities.
“We will be preparing a new street lighting policy, taking a Dorset-specific approach to the application of street lighting that considers modern technological advancements, health and wellbeing, Dorset’s unique environment, our climate ambitions, and recognised best practice.
“Town and parish councils will also be empowered to fund bespoke streetlights for their communities.
“Please take the opportunity to have your say by completing our consultation questionnaire.”
Further information
- The street lighting consultation is on Dorset Council’s website
