Electronic signs for borough lamp posts

Hundreds of electronic signs informing people about problems such as roadworks or cancelled bin collections could be installed as part of a £36 million plan to replace every lamp post in a Black Country borough.

Council bosses in Sandwell said today they were "very confident" the scheme to replace all 30,000 lamp posts would soon become a reality.

The warning signs would be attached to up to 250 of the new posts and display up-to-date information such as roadworks, cancelled bin collections, road closures and upcoming events.

Sandwell regeneration boss and deputy council leader Councillor Mahboob Hussain said a detailed report on the £36 million lamp post scheme would be completed by the end of May or early June.

A pilot scheme in Oldbury town centre has now been completed and hailed a success. It saw every street light, traffic light and any other council light changed from a 240 voltage bulb to a brighter, more energy-efficient six voltage bulb.

The concrete lamp posts in the town are also due to be replaced by the end of May.

Under the £36 million scheme, every one of Sandwell's 30,000 concrete lamp posts would be swapped for metal ones that are easier to maintain and use energy-efficient lightbulbs.

Councillor Hussain said the replacements would be 50 per cent brighter and save £1.5 million a year in maintenance and energy costs.

He said today: "A report for the cross-borough plan, outlining various options, will soon be completed.

"I am very confident this will become a reality as it will pay for itself. It will save so much money in maintenance and energy costs and improve safety on the streets as the new lamp posts will be 50 per cent brighter.

"The noticeboards are another option we're considering. They would broadcast live information, such as cancelled bin collections in the bad winter weather for example. There would be a number of boards in each neighbourhood."