Issued: 28 June 2002
Lighting Column Saftey
109 lighting columns in Angus have failed a safety check in the latest round of testing being carried out by Angus Council.
Over 600 columns in Arbroath, Brechin, Edzell, Kirkton of Auchterhouse, Forfar and Kirriemuir were tested as part of the council’s ongoing safety inspection programme, approved by the Roads Committee last year.
This latest round of tests specifically included the 162 columns normally used for hanging baskets and unfortunately 24 of these columns in Brechin, Forfar and Kirriemuir failed the load-bearing test.
The council is now removing all of the columns found to be below the acceptable safety standard.
Roads Convener Sandy West said the latest round of tests had produced a higher number of test failures than previously because the council had concentrated on columns which had suffered damage during storms in January and those earmarked to carry hanging baskets.
“In the first round only four out of 150 columns tested failed. This time we concentrated on those columns where problems had been noted, such as Kirkton Road in Arbroath where some columns had been damaged during the January gales and in burghs where the lighting columns carry the additional weight of hanging baskets during the summer months.
“A pair of hanging baskets weighs up to five stones (32 kilos) so we were keen to establish that the columns used for baskets had sufficient extra strength.
“The testing programme revealed a problem with the load-bearing capacity of around 27% of the columns used for hanging baskets. While all of these columns are being removed over the next few days, those in Carnoustie will remain as they meet the safety requirements for wind loading, although they will no longer be used for decorative baskets.
“Although the Carnoustie columns were not physically tested it was decided, as a precautionary measure, not to hang baskets on the lighting columns in the High Street as they are of the same age and a slightly lighter design than those which failed the additional load-bearing test in Kirriemuir.
“The streets where columns have had to be removed will now be looked at to assess whether they should be replaced individually or whether it would be more cost effective to carry out a lighting improvement for the whole street.”
Councillor West went on to say: “When lighting systems are being replaced in Angus we will now ensure that, where required, the new columns will be able to take the extra weight of hanging baskets. Christmas decorations are lighter and can continue to be mounted on existing lighting columns.”
Carnoustie East Councillor David Selfridge said it was very disappointing that it wouldn’t be possible to have any hanging baskets on the lighting columns in the town’s High Street.
“Safety obviously has to be our main concern so we have to accept that we can no longer use the existing columns for baskets. In Carnoustie we now need to look for alternatives to baskets on lighting columns to keep the High Street bright and attractive during the summer months.”