Safer Routes to Schools Scheme Results in a Safer Environment

Northampton County Council are currently implementing a safer routes to school scheme (SRTS), which delivers advances to help improve safety, accessibility and encourage more children to walk or cycle to school. This is resulting in less traffic and congestion and will ultimately improve air quality in and around the school area. Northampton County Council recognises that the involvement of the school community is vital if there is to be a real shift towards walking and cycling so they are introducing speed reduction measures, safer crossing points, new or extended lengths of footway, cycle facilities and enhanced signing and lighting in the area. The company responsible for implementing these improvements and maintaining more than 4,000km of roads across Northamptonshire is MGWSP, a joint venture between May Gurney and WSP UK, which was formed in January 2008 as part of the Council’s sustainable transport highways services contract. The partnership combines expertise in infrastructure with engineering and management consultancy and results in the delivery of integrated local government services across the UK. MGWSP aims to significantly improve the regions highways network and stay ahead of the communities ever changing needs and high expectations. MGWSP invited WRTL Exterior Lighting to participate in an LED street lighting pilot scheme along a footpath adjacent to Woodvale Primary School in Goldings. Alan Knight of MGWSP designed the scheme using WRTL’s Stela LED luminaire, which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 65% compared to traditional solutions and provides high energy savings without the need to dim or switch off during the night, resulting in safer streets. Stela is manufactured using a large proportion of recycled materials, especially steel and aluminium, and also has a 100,000 hour design service life with a six year cleaning cycle and virtually no other maintenance required. The Stela units were installed by Cartledge, the Street Lighting arm of May Gurney. Northamptonshire County Council is working to control carbon emissions through their Carbon Management Action Plan (CMAP), adopted in July 2005. This aims to minimise carbon emissions from all the main sources, including street lighting. The reduction forecast from actions already planned is 7.8% but requires further actions to be identified in order to achieve an overall reduction target of 25%, a target that could be achieved by replacing existing sodium street lights with LED luminaires. Trevor Mummery of MGWSP commented: “Our track record in delivering great operational performance has built long-term relationships with our clients and suppliers such as WRTL, who rely on us to support and anticipate their current needs and improve future outcomes. “We all need to work together to meet the needs of a low-carbon economy. We are committed to helping our clients and suppliers in the public and regulated sectors deliver sustainable improvements to front-line services across Northamptonshire.” For further information call WRTL on 0121 521 1234 email sales@wrtl.co.uk or visit www.wrtl.co.uk ENDS 501 words

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