Surrey Highways are not repairing broken street lights unless it's urgent.

8.20.00pm GMT Sun 15th Nov 2009

Get used to the dark

A new PFI street lighting contract is expected to start early next year, which will involve replacing 80% of the existing lamp columns, so they are not spending money on repairing columns that will be replaced.

Damaged or street lighting columns, regulatory signs and bollards are still being dealt with, though sometimes just by disconnecting the power and chopping off the damaged part. Routine replacement of bulbs is also still continuing.

Other works such as lantern replacements and straightening street lights that are leaning are being treated as low priority and not carried out except in busy roads where there is a risk of road traffic collisions and in locations identified by the Police as "high crime areas".

The Police are asking the public NOT to contact them, as it wastes their time. Assessment is carried out automatically.